CABINET OFFICE

Correspondence

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will ensure that a reference number and, where appropriate, the name and address of the constituent concerned is given in correspondence with hon. Members from Government Departments.

Douglas Alexander: The Cabinet Office document XHandling Correspondence from Members of Parliament: Guidance to Departments" sets out the principles Departments should follow when replying to correspondence from MPs. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.
	The format of individual replies is a matter for the Minister concerned.

Focus Group Research

Graham Allen: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether commissions for focus group research by Government Departments are subject to competitive tender.

Douglas Alexander: Overall procurement policy is a matter for the Office of Government Commerce . I can answer for the practice only in the Cabinet Office, the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) and the Central Office of Information (COI).
	The rules for procuring focus group research are the same as for procuring other types of service. In the Cabinet Office, commissions estimated to cost #10,000 or more are normally subject to formal competitive tendering. Commissions estimated to cost less than #10,000 are normally awarded following receipt of competitive quotations.
	The GCDA does not commission focus group research. However the COI does, not on its own behalf but on behalf of its government clients. In such cases COI asks three of its roster of suppliers (appointed competitively under EC procurement rules) to submit proposals and costs; the supplier providing the best value for money proposal is appointed. On occasion, the client requires urgent research and COI appoints the roster supplier that it considers to be the appropriate agency for the work.

Non-governmental Organisations

Norman Lamb: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to receive representations from non-governmental organisations as part of the interdepartmental discussions on Criterion 8 of the Consolidated Criteria relating to sustainable development being facilitated by his Office.

Patricia Hewitt: I have been asked to reply. 
	I apologise for the delay in replying. The interdepartmental discussions on improving procedures for assessing relevant export licence applications against criterion 8 of the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria have already been completed. The results were published on 31 July 2002, Official Report, columns 309 12W.

TRANSPORT

A21

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the local public exhibition of the revised proposals for improvements to the A21 Tonbridge to Pembury stretch is due to be held.

David Jamieson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Tim Matthews to Archie Norman, dated 5 November 2002
	David Jamieson has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the exhibition of revised proposals for the improvement of the A21 between Tonbridge and Pembury.
	The exhibitions are scheduled to be held on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 November at the Weald of Kent Grammar School for Girls in Tonbridge. We shall be publishing a newsletter in the next few days which will give further details of the proposed on-line improvement and exhibition opening times. I will ensure that a copy is sent to you as soon as it is available.
	We are also arranging for a preview of the exhibition for yourself and local councillors which will be at a separate venue to the main exhibition. We will write to you soon with an invitation when arrangements for that venue have been finalised.
	Should you need any further details about the proposals, Peter Minshull, the Project Sponsor at the Agency's office at Dorking will be happy to discuss these with you. He can be contacted on 01306 878134.

Air Travel Trust Fund

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 15 January, Official Report, column 208W, what plans he has to introduce legislation to provide powers to impose a levy to recoup the costs of the Air Travel Trust Fund; what action he plans to take to defray their debts; and what contingency plans he has made to deal with the situation following the collapse of a travel company; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: As my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport said previously, we will introduce a draft Bill to secure the necessary powers to impose a levy when a suitable legislative opportunity arises. The debts of the Air Travel Trust Fund (ATTF) are currently covered by a commercial loan backed by Government guarantee.
	In the event of a collapse of a travel organiser which offers holidays including air travel, the Civil Aviation Authority would, under the terms of the Air Travel Organisers Licence (ATOL) scheme, refund or repatriate those customers affected. The Government would ensure that any subsequent calls on the ATTF would be met.

Bus Passengers

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information is collated by his Department on bus passengers and bus passenger miles travelled in Greater London in each year since 1997; what estimate his Department has made for 2003–04; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Department collects information on the number of bus passenger journeys made each year in Greater London, details are set out as follows:
	In addition, the National Travel Survey collects information on the characteristics of bus passengers in Greater London (but excludes foreign tourists) and details of journey purpose and frequency.
	Although not collected by the Department, details of the bus passenger satisfaction survey sponsored by Transport for London (TfL) are published by the Department each quarter in XTransport Statistics Bulletin: Bus Quality Indicators: England", which is held in the Libraries of the House.
	The Department does not collect or collate information on bus passenger miles travelled in Greater London, although details can be found in the TfL publication, XTransport Statistics for London 2001" (also in the Library).
	
		Bus passenger journeys in Greater London
		
			 Year Passenger journeys million 
		
		
			 19997–98 1,294 
			 1998–99 1,279 
			 1999–2000 1,307 
			 2000–01 1,359 
			 2001–02 1,434 
		
	
	Source:
	Department for Transport annual survey of public service vehicle operators and Transport for London.
	The Department has not made an estimate of passenger journeys or passenger miles in Greater London for 2003–04, although Transport for London has produced some estimates in its Business Plan available on the TfL web site at:
	www.transportforlondon.gov.uk/tfl/reports library business.shtml

Car Number Plates

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action is being taken to tackle illegal car number plate duplication.

David Jamieson: We are taking active and immediate steps to tackle this difficult problem. The Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001 contains measures to require all number plates suppliers in England and Wales to register with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). This requirement will come into force on 1 January 2003 and will ensure that in future number plates are only sold by registered suppliers to a purchaser who can show proof of entitlement to that registration mark and proof of their own identity. Records will be kept of all sales for inspection by police or local authority trading standards officers.
	Since September 2001 all number plates issued have had to display the name and postcode of the supplying outlet.

Car Sharing

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to encourage car sharing.

David Jamieson: In August my Department published and disseminated to all local authorities and other major employers in England a guide on XMaking travel plans work: lessons from UK case studies" which highlighted successful car-sharing schemes set up by employers as part of their travel plans. A copy of the guide is in the Library of the House. The Government will shortly be responding to the report commissioned by the Motorists' Forum on car sharing and car clubs in which we will set out our plans for further work to encourage car sharing.

Disused Railway Track Beds

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent in each of the past five years in (a) feasibility studies into the possible re-opening of disused railway lines and (b) re-opening closed lines.

David Jamieson: Although the Strategic Rail Authority undertakes, from time to time, project development work including feasibility studies, it is not possible to identify readily those elements that relate specifically to the re-opening of railway lines. Feasibility studies are also undertaken by other stakeholders, including local authorities.

Inverness-Gatwick Link

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a decision on the proposed public service obligation on the Inverness to Gatwick route.

David Jamieson: : [holding answer 4 November 2002]: Officials in the Department for Transport are working closely with colleagues in the Scottish Executive on proposals for public service obligations and other options for safeguarding vital regional air services. The Government will publish their conclusion in due course.

Inverness/London Air Service

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what resources he will allocate to a public service obligation for a regional air service between Inverness and London.

David Jamieson: The current air services between Inverness and London operate without subsidy.

London Buses

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much investment in London Buses there was in each of the last ten years for which figures are available.

David Jamieson: Information on investment in London bus services by bus operators is not available centrally, although between July 2000 and June 2002, bus companies operating in London introduced some 2,600 new buses.
	Other investment in London Buses is set out in London Transport's Annual Report documents, which incorporate their audited accounts—copies of the accounts are available in the Libraries of the House.

London Buses

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what route mileage was served, and how many passengers were carried, on London Buses in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

David Jamieson: The number of bus passenger journeys and vehicle kilometres in London over the last ten years have been compiled from the Department's annual survey of bus and coach operators and information received from Transport for London (TfL). The figures include journeys on a small number of routes not contracted to TfL.
	
		
			 Year Passenger journeys million Vehicle kilometres million 
		
		
			 1991 to 1992 1,149 316 
			 1992 to 1993 1,129 330 
			 1993 to 1994 1,117 343 
			 1994 to 1995 1,167 356 
			 1995 to 1996 1,205 353 
			 1996 to 1997 1,242 342 
			 1997 to 1998 1,294 362 
			 1998 to 1999 1,279 358 
			 1999 to 2000 1,307 366 
			 2000 to 2001 1,359 373 
			 2001 to 2002 p 1,434 380 
		
	
	p provisional figures.
	Source: DfT and TfL

London Underground

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much investment there was in the London Underground, and how many passengers were carried, in each of the last ten years for which figures are available;
	(2)  what proportion of total investment in London Underground has gone into building the Jubilee line in each of the last ten years.

David Jamieson: The information requested on overall investment and passenger numbers is set out in London Transport's annual report documents, which incorporate their audited annual accounts.
	The following table shows the proportion of overall investment that went into building the Jubilee Line Extension each year:
	
		
			 Year Percentage Proportion of investment  
		
		
			 1992 to 1993 9.2 
			 1993 to 1994 33.2 
			 1994 to 1995 42.6 
			 1995 to 1996 48.8 
			 1996 to 1997 56.4 
			 1997 to 1998 49.5 
			 1998 to 1999 37.7 
			 1999 to 2000 60.3(1) 
			 2000 to 2001 0 
			 2001 to 2002 0 
		
	
	(1) London Transport's accounts for 1999–2000 included an estimated accrual for all Jubilee Line. Extension works to be paid in future years.

National Air Traffic Services

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the state of faults on the UK NATS website; and when the faults will be rectified;[R]
	(2)  what representations he has received from UK pilots who have to log onto the Swedish air traffic service in order to obtain UK NOTAM for safety and time critical information owing to faults on the UK NATS website.[R]

David Jamieson: National Air Traffic Services Ltd. introduced a new on-line information system in late August, replacing the former manual system. The change was made after extensive consultation with users. The new system is intended to provide much wider access to pre-flight information, thereby enhancing safety, but some general aviation users who are accustomed to the manual system have not found it easy to adapt.
	The system is provided with back-up facilities and, while—as with most other similar websites—it may be necessary to suspend operation for very short periods, I am assured that the continuity of service will not be significantly compromised.

Rail Freight

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what trials have taken place under the auspices of (a) the Strategic Rail Authority and (b) his Department relating to rail freight since June; what assessment is being made of these trials; when the outcomes of these trials are expected to be published; and if he will place related documentation in the Library;
	(2)  what the (a) agreed outputs, (b) type of scheme and (c) timetable for introduction are of the winning scheme under the Strategic Rail Authority's Logistics Competition by (i) Blue Circles Industries, (ii) Excel and (iii) Minimodal; what progress has been made; and what the timetable is for further implementation of the schemes as originally outlined;
	(3)  what the involvement of his Department was in the Strategic Rail Authority's Logistics Competition; and when trials of these schemes (a) were due to begin when the winners were announced and (b) will now begin;
	(4)  what representations have been received and what assessment has been made by his Department of the Strategic Rail Authority's cargo-sprinter train trials; what representations it has received; and what discussions the Department has held on the subject.

David Jamieson: The SRA's press release, issued on 13 June 2000, provides a description of each scheme. The agreed outputs of the SRA's Logistics Competition are part of the contracts between the applicants and the SRA signed in January 2001 and are commercially confidential.
	The wagons and inter-modal units for the Blue Circle Industries project were delivered this summer, with trials commencing in September. A prototype container was produced in spring 2002 for the Minimodal scheme, with trials taking place during the summer. The first trials of the Exel scheme were completed in July-August 2001 with the second trials completed in spring this year. This project has now been completed and Exel are due to provide a final report for publication by the end of the year. Once published this and the reports of the other two schemes will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
	My Department has received a number of representations about the competition and is kept informed on its progress by the SRA, but it has not been involved in the assessment of any of the entries or subsequent trials. The SRA is not assessing the trials, as the aim of the competition was to fund companies to take forward their projects and undertake commercial trials in order to demonstrate the concept to the market.

Rail Services

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much investment there was in the London rail commuter services in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; how many passengers were carried; and how many accidents there were in each of those years.

David Jamieson: Since many rail investment projects benefit more than one part of the country, it is not possible to provide an accurate regional breakdown of total rail investment. The table shows, for 1992–93 and 1993–94, the amount of public service obligation grant paid to British Rail in respect of its Network SouthEast (NSE) sector; and, for each of the six years from 1996–97 to 2001–02, Government support paid to London & South East (L&SE) train operating companies (TOCs):
	
		
			  # million cash prices 
		
		
			 1992 to 1993 525 
			 1993 to 1994 372 
			 1996 to 1997 573(2)  
			 1997 to 1998 464 
			 1999 to 2000 271 
			 2000 to 2001 175 
			 2001 to 2002 90 
		
	
	Figures for Government support to L&SE TOCs in 1994–95 and 1995–96 are not readily available.
	(2) Support for Passenger Rail Services paid by the Franchising Director to British Rail, and from the point of franchise to private sector franchisees, in respect of L&SE TOCs.
	Details of passenger numbers on British Rail's NSE sector in 1992–93 and 1993–94 are not readily available. For details of passenger numbers on L&SE TOCs from 1994–95 onwards, I refer the hon. Member to the latest (September 2002) edition of the Strategic Rail Authority statistics bulletin XNational Rail Trends," copies of which are available in the House Library. Table Lib on page 4 shows passenger kilometres, and Table 1.2b on page 7 shows passenger journeys, travelled on those TOCs.
	The Health and Safety Executive, the rail safety regulator, produces accident data covering the national network and does not produce data on a regional level. Accident statistics for the national network covering the last ten years are in the annual reports of HSE's railways inspectorate, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Rail Services

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents there have been on (a) the London Underground and (b) the London rail commuter services in each of the last ten years for which figures are available.

David Jamieson: Statistics on accidents on the London Underground and the national rail networks are given in the annual report of HM Chief Inspector of Railways, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Recruitment (Over-50s)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of new recruits to his Department in the past two years were aged 50 and over.

David Jamieson: The percentage figures for each year for new recruits aged 50 and over in the period requested is as follows for DETR(C) April 2000 to March 2001 and DTLR(C) April 2001 to March 2002.
	
		
			 Period Percentage 
		
		
			 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 7.2 
			 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 6.5

Secondments

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many individuals have been seconded to senior civil servant positions in his Department, in each case listing (a) from which organisation, (b) duration to date and planned duration of the secondment and (c) source of current salary in the secondment post.

David Jamieson: None.

Secondments

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many senior civil servants are seconded from his Department, in each case listing the (a) location, (b) duration to date and planned duration of the secondment and (c) source of the salary in the secondment post.

David Jamieson: One member of my Department's senior civil servants has just taken up a six month secondment to the South East England Development Agency.
	The Department normally expects the host organisation to cover the salary costs of staff on secondment.

Train Services (Midlands)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the reliability and punctuality of train services between Worcester and Birmingham via Droitwich Spa and Hartlebury.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority publish performance statistics for all train operating companies in their quarterly XNational Rail Trends" publication. The figures for each operator are not broken down to route level, but reflect the performance of their services in aggregate. The most recent edition was published on 12 September. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.

Trains (Bicycle Carriage)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1) how many bicycles were carried by train by each train operating company in each year since 1996.
	(2)  how many bicycle spaces were provided on the railways (a) at the latest available date and (b) in 1996; and how many bicycles were carried by train by each train operating company in each year since 1996.
	(3)  which train operating companies have increased the number of bicycle spaces on board their rolling stock since 1996.

David Jamieson: Information on the number of bicycles carried each year is not held. There is no method by which this can be monitored, as passengers with bicycles do not necessarily need a reservation, or in most cases even a ticket because the majority of train operators do not make a charge for the carriage of bicycles.

Transport Plan

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for his Department's forthcoming report on the Ten Year Transport Plan to include (a) a definition of congestion with benchmark figures and interim targets for its reduction, (b) a commitment for the multi-modal studies to be completed by March 2003 with a plan of action to be agreed within six months of completion, (c) interim targets for delivery of (i) new trunk and (ii) local road improvements to 2006 and (d) a commitment to publish annual progress reports on the implementation of the measures set out in the Plan; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The report will include a full up-date on progress towards achieving the objectives set out in the 10 Year Plan.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Members' Access

David Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on the arrangements made to ensure hon. Members have access to the House at all times.

Archy Kirkwood: holding answer 4 November 2002
	Hon. Members have access to the House at all times. In recent months additional security measures have been adopted on the advice of the Security Service and the Metropolitan Police. These are designed to enhance protection for all those who use the building, commensurate with current threat assessments. The Serjeant at Arms is available at all times to discuss issues of access and security with hon. Members.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

Parliamentary Questions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 15 November 2001, Official Report, column 871W, if he will make a statement on the printing of answers to questions during the summer recess in a special edition of the Official Report; and what plans he has to repeat the exercise.

Robin Cook: The hon. Lady will recall that I welcomed her suggestion that answers normally given by letter during a recess should be printed in a special edition of the Official Report.
	I am pleased to report that during the period of the summer recess, the Government answered a total of 1,418 questions, all of which were printed in Hansard for the convenience of all Members of the House.
	I propose that, even with September sittings, we should continue this new system.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

ADSL

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy to require the regulator to ensure that BT reduces the trigger thresholds for converting telephone exchanges to ADSL.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 4 November 2002
	The rollout of BTs ADSL services., including deciding on trigger levels for enabling its exchanges to provide these services, forms a commercial decision to be taken by BT, As ADSL is not a service that BT is required by its Licence to provide, Oftel has no power to set the conditions under which BT should enable exchanges.
	Both Liberty Broadband (at http:/Mrww.briiigingbroadband2youco.uk/) and the East of England Development Agency (atttp://www.broadbandbrokerage.com/bbb/) are also running demand registration schemes.

British Printing Industries Federation

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much financial assistance has been given, broken down by financial year, to the British Printing Industries Federation; what future support they will enjoy; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: DTI does not provide direct financial assistance to the British Printing Industries Federation but has worked with this organisation in partnership with other industry members to support initiatives aimed at raising this sectors competitiveness and productivity.
	In particular, my Department is currently working closely with the British Printing Industries Federation to take forward actions from XPrint 21: coming of age?" the competitiveness study for the print industry, published in summer 2001.

Business Sector (West Midlands)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the business organisations in the West Midlands with which she makes it her policy to consult on matters of relevance to the business sector.

Alan Johnson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry meets with the chairmen of regional development agencies regularly and consults them on matters of interest to them and businesses in their regions. RDAs (which are business led and have 50 per cent. of members with a business background) have widespread links with businesses in each region and are well placed to reflect the business view.
	In addition, the Department of Trade and Industry consults widely on specific issues, most recently on the review of its structure and currently on the Review of Business Support. Organisations consulted—and invited to progress meetings (the West Midlands as in other regions) include the CBI, engineering, Employers Federation, RDA, Business Links, Cambers of Commerce, Learning and Skills Councils, local authorities, universities, local enterprise agencies, trade associations, research and technology organisations and other business support bodies.

Capita

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial tribunals involving Capita have taken place in the last five years.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 4 November 2002
	In the five-year period up to 30 September 2002 16 cases involving Capita came to a hearing at an Employment Tribunal in Great Britain
	Source: Employment Tribunals Service

Capita

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the contracts for government work held by Capita.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 4 November 2002
	Central records indicate that the department currently has one live contract with Capita Business Services, for the administration of the Construction Quality Mark Scheme.

Departmental Recruitment

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent in recruiting staff to her Department in (a) London and (b) the south east in each year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 4 November 2002
	Information about the cost of centrally managed recruitment is as follows. It is not possible to distinguish between recruitment in London and in the south east.
	
		
			 Year #000 
		
		
			 1997–98 0 
			 1998–99 136 
			 1999–2000 490 
			 2000–01 397 
			 2001–02 117

Discrimination

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many legal claims of discrimination are estimated to have been made as a result of anti-discrimination regulations introduced since 1997.

Alan Johnson: Anti-discrimination regulations introduced since 1997 have amended existing legislation on race., sex and disability. Detailed information on which to base estimates of legal claims resulting specifically from such amendments is not available.

Energy Review

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she has received a submission from the Scottish Executive with respect to the Government's review of future energy policy.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 24 October 2002
	Scottish Ministers have submitted a response to the consultation for the Performance and Innovation Unit's XEnergy Review". We understand that they see no need for a further formal response to the Government's current review of energy policy, but Scottish officials are working closely with my officials on Scottish aspects of the review.

International Energy Agency

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the IEA has met to discuss the possible scenarios arising from a conflict in Iraq; who the members of the IEA are; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: The International Energy Agency regularly discusses oil market issues in the Governing Board and in two committees, the Standing Group on the Oil Market and the Standing Group on Emergency Questions. Scenarios relating to a wide range of global issues, including the Middle East, are a normal part of assessment of oil market developments.
	The International Energy Agency has 26 member countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States and Norway (Norway participates under a special Agreement). The European Commission also participates in the work of the IEA.

OPCW

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial facilities the OPCW has inspected since its inception; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: The OPCW has produced figures for the total number of sites it has inspected which fall under the three Schedules in the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), or which are characterised as sites producing discrete organic chemicals (DOC). The figures available on the OPCW website are as follows:
	
		
			  Total number of sites inspected 
		
		
			 Schedule 1 34 
			 Schedule 2 181 
			 Schedule 3 91 
			 Discrete organic — 
			 Chemicals (DOC) 85 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures as of 28 October 2002
	All Schedule 2 and 3 and DOC sites are industrial, while Schedule 1 sites are mainly defence-related. All the Schedule 1 sites and some of the Schedule 2 sites have been inspected by the OPCW on a number of occasions. The inspections are a routine activity whose purpose is to check that the information which the sites have declared to the OPCW is accurate, and to confirm that the activities carried out at the sites are consistent with the CWC. All OPCW inspections carried out on sites in the United Kingdom have found them to be in compliance with the CWC.

Pharmacy Dispensing Contracts

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to receive the report of the Office of Fair Trading investigation into pharmacy contract limitations.

Melanie Johnson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry expects to receive the report by the end of the year.

Porton Down and Shivenham

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the OPCW last carried out an inspection at (a) CBD Porton Down and (b) the Royal Military College of Science at Shivenham; if she will place the results in the Library; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: The OPCW last inspected (a) CBD Porton Down on 28–30 January 2002 and (b) the Royal Military College of Science at Shivenham on 23–25 July 2001. These were routine inspections under the terms of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The OPCW inspectors confirmed that there were no uncertainties regarding the United Kingdom's compliance with the CWC. My officials will consult the OPCW on whether a summary of their inspectors' findings can be placed in the Library. I will write to the hon. Member to confirm the outcome of these consultations.

Raising Finance Booklets

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the booklets on best practice on raising finance, XMoney and Machines" and XInformed Investment in Modern Production Machinery" were reprinted.

Patricia Hewitt: Since publication in 1995 XMoney and Machines" has been reprinted on a number of occasions the last comprising a full revision in 1998. XInformed Investment in Modern Manufacturing Equipment" was published in 1998 and has neither been reprinted nor revised.

Regulations

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate her Department has made of the costs to business of the regulations introduced by the Government since May 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: Estimates of the costs and benefits to business of the regulations introduced since May 1997 are shown in the published regulatory impact assessments, which are in the Libraries of the House,

Telemarketing

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to propose legislation to regulate the use of aggressive telemarketing techniques.

Stephen Timms: Unsolicited direct marketing by telephone has been subject to regulation in the UK since 1999, and there are also consumer protections if individuals enter into contracts during this kind of call.
	The current regulations are the Telecommunications (Data Protection and Privacy) Regulations 19995 which provide that individual subscribers who do not wish to receive this type of call can register with a central list—the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). Direct marketers are obliged to check that they do not call numbers on the TPS list when making unsolicited calls. Direct marketers are also obliged to take account of any requests not to call again that they receive direct from individual subscribers. Further details are available on the DTI website at the following URL: http://www.dti.gov.uk/cii/regulatory/telecomms/telecommsergulations/ec telecomms data protection.shtml.
	There will be an opportunity to review the way these regulations are working when we consult next year on implementation of the new version of the directive on which these regulations are based.
	Organisations that market by telephone to individuals must also comply with the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 that came into force in October 2000. These regulations require those making unsolicited direct marketing calls to identify clearly the company they represent and the commercial purpose of the call at the beginning of the conversation. They also stipulate that the consumer has the right to receive clear information in advance of any decision to purchase, subsequent written acknowledgement of this information., and a seven-day cooling off period for most contracts agreed at a distance. Further information is available on the DTI website at the following URL: http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics 1 /ecomm.htm.

Young Enterprise

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support her Department gives to Young Enterprise.

Nigel Griffiths: For the current academic year (August-July), the DTI is providing Young Enterprise with approximately #250k of support for their MasterClasses and Grauduate programmes and their Innovation Awards.

Your Guide

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent on the Your Guide project; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Your Guide pilot in Leicestershire and Rutland cost #30 million. Government provided #25 million and I understand that Post Office Ltd. provided in the region of #5 million.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

AIDS (Africa)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance she is giving to countries in Africa to help combat AIDS.

Clare Short: HIV/AIDS is one of the most important development challenges facing Africa. My Department committed over #180 million in HIV and sexual health programmes in Africa in 2001–02. DFID's overall programme in Africa is set to increase from #640 million to #1 billion by 2006, and HIV/AIDS will remain one of our highest priorities for the region.
	Internationally, a further US $200 million has been pledged towards the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, #16 million to support the Microbicides for HIV Prevention Initiative, and #14 million to the IAVI (the international AIDS Vaccine Initiative). Considerable additional resources have also been committed to the United Nations and to civil society organisations to combat this disease and support those already living with it.

Agricultural Subsidies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with her French counterparts regarding the impact of agricultural subsidies on development in poor countries; and what these discussions have achieved.

Clare Short: In June of this year, I wrote to all my EU counterparts on the subject of reform of the common agricultural policy, emphasising the need for this reform as well as for coherence between the objectives of our development co-operation and our other policies which affect developing countries.
	The French Government responded positively, saying that they were in full agreement concerning poverty elimination and sustainable development. However, they indicated that agricultural questions were very complex in France, and that a coherent policy was vital.
	In my Department, we are following these matters closely. In July, we took an initiative to invite representatives from all EU Governments to discuss XThe Impact of CAP Reform on Developing Countries". These discussions will continue. There was a similar meeting in Bonn last month, which will be followed up with a further meeting in The Hague in January.

Burma

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of (a) the treatment of the Karen in Burma and (b) landmines in the Karen region.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	Ethnic minorities, including the Karen, suffer disproportionately from the human rights abuses carried out by the Burmese regime. Continued fighting between the Burmese army and armed Karen groups, which includes the use of mines by both sides, is the cause of on-going suffering among the ordinary people in Karen State.
	HMG provides humanitarian assistance to Burmese refugees and those internally displaced, including the Karen.

Burma

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions her Department has had with the Government of Burma.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	The European Union ban on high-level contact with Burma and our poor bilateral relationship with the Burmese military regime restrict discussions with the Burmese regime. Contact on important issues does continue. The most recent example of bilateral contact was discussions between embassy officials and Burmese officials regarding the International Code of Conduct against ballistic missile proliferation.

Burma

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the UN about human rights violations in Burma.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	We have on-going dialogue with the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Burma and the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Burma about human rights abuses in Burma. Together with our European Union partners we annually co-sponsor resolutions on the human rights situation in Burma at both the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department's response is to the recent UN report into the exploitation of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of Congo by (a) the Democratic Republic of Congo, (b) Rwanda, (c) Uganda and (d) Zimbabwe.

Clare Short: We welcome the UN Panel report and are studying its allegations closely both within DFID and with other Departments in Whitehall. We are also considering a substantive response to the report's recommendations.

East Timor

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the humanitarian situation in East Timor; what financial support her Department provides to East Timor; and which organisations her Department supports that work in East Timor.

Clare Short: An assessment of the Humanitarian situation in East Timor is included in East Timor's National Development Plan, which was described in my answer to the hon. Member's previous question. Full details of my Department's financial commitments to East Timor between 1999 and 2005 are given in the following table:
	
		# 
		
			 Activity Commitment  1999–2005 Disbursed  
		
		
			 United Nations: 1999 ballot 800,000 800,000 
			 Humanitarian and Emergency Relief 6,500,000 6,500,000 
			 United Nations Transitional Administration 4,500,000 4,500,000 
			 United Nations: Support for 2001 Elections 500,000 500,000 
			 World Bank Trust Fund (infrastructure) 8,000,000 8,000,000 
			 Support for Developing the National Development Plan (NDP) 300,000 ( 
			 NDP Implementation 2002–05 12,000,000 4,000,000 
			 OXFAM: Human Resource Development 1,890,000 590,000 
			 Civil Society and International NGOs 67,831 25,809 
			 Local Civil Society Organisations 450,000 94,579 
			 UK share of European Commission Expenditure, 1999–2005(3) 19,728,000 14,200,000 
			 Total 54,735,831 39,210,388 
		
	
	(3) Estimated UK attribution at 19 per cent. of EC expenditure in East Timor

East Timor

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on East Timor since its establishment as an independent sovereign state.

Clare Short: Newly independent East Timor faces a number of challenges. The Government have prepared an excellent National Development Plan (NDP), which describes how these challenges will be addressed. The new nation, however, lacks the financial and technical resources to implement the Plan. Until revenues from offshore oil and gas exploitation come on stream, expected to be in 2006–07, it will be reliant upon financial and technical support from the international community.
	Donors have responded well and the NDP is fully financed for the next three years. It is only five months since independence and too early to judge the impact of the NDP. Initial activities have, however, started and Government, together with donors, will be reviewing progress later this month.
	The UK contribution to the international effort on East Timor's development is described in my replies to the hon. Member's other questions on East Timor.

East Timor

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money her Department is giving to East Timor in 2002–03.

Clare Short: This year my Department will provide grants worth #6.5 million to East Timor. The bulk of these funds, #4 million, is to help the Government of East Timor implement its National Development Plan. The balance comprises residual commitments to UN and World Bank Trust Funds established before Independence, plus #500,000 to support the activities of international and local Non-Governmental Organisations, including OXFAM.
	In addition a proportion of the costs of the European Union assistance programme will be attributed to DFID, but it is too early to determine how
	much this will be in 2002–03.

East Timor

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of (a) the health situation, (b) the education situation, (c) the employment situation and (d) poverty alleviation in East Timor.

Clare Short: My Department, alongside the World bank and the United Nations, has provided technical advice to the Government of East Timor to help them
	develop their National Development Plan (NDP). The plan includes a full analysis of the social and economic challenges facing the new nation, including health, education, employment and poverty, and contains the Government's proposals for addressing these. Donors and the international community have commended East Timor on the quality of the plan.
	Donors have pledged sufficient funds to fully implement scheduled NDP activities for the next three years. DFID has contributed #4 million to the NDP this year and expects to contribute a similar amount in each of the next two years.

East Timor

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to meet the Government of East Timor.

Clare Short: I met the Prime Minister of East Timor, Dr. Alkatiri, on 26 March this year, and Dr. Horta, the Foreign Minister, on 12 June. I have no further plans to meet members of the Government of East Timor in the current year.

East Timor

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with Christian Solidarity Worldwide concerning East Timor.

Clare Short: My Department has had no discussions with Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), nor have we received any proposals from them. The British embassy in Dili has had informal contacts with CSW.

East Timorese Refugees

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what she is doing about the East Timorese in refugee camps in West Timor.

Clare Short: My Department has not provided direct support to East Timorese refugees in West Timor. We have, however, provided #4.2 million to the United Nations Conflict Reduction and Prevention Unit, which is available for their programmes with refugees in West Timor.

Election Observers

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial support her Department provides to election observers; in which countries; and what guidance her Department issues to election observers.

Clare Short: DFID supports the electoral process in a number of ways in a number of developing and transition countries. In June 1998, DFID and the FCO published XElections and the electoral process: a guide to assistance", which is available in the House of Commons Library and on our website.
	Our support for election observers is usually provided in partnership with an international organisation such as the European Union or the Commonwealth who have developed their own guidance and training for observers.

Human Rights Projects

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects by which her Department promotes (a) the freedom of the press and (b) religious freedom in developing countries.

Clare Short: The information is as follows:
	(a) DFID supports the development of the media in a number of developing and transition countries, and published guidance on developing free and effective media to serve the interests of the poor in July 2001. Copies of XThe Media in Governance" are available in the House of Commons Library and on our website. Our support aims to balance strengthening the capacity of the press and media to hold government to account with encouraging the press to meet their responsibilities of objective, constructive reporting.
	(b) The objective of my Department is the elimination of poverty. Our central focus is therefore respect for the human rights of the poor. Frequently the poorest are ethnic and religious minorities that face discrimination and social exclusion. Our strategy on human rights is set out in XRealising human rights for poor people" published in October 2000.

Ivory Coast

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the recent ethnic strife in the Ivory Coast against the civilians from northern Daloa; and what discussions her Department has had with the overnment of the Ivory Coast on the subject.

Clare Short: We are working closely with others in the international community to help bring about a swift and peaceful resolution to the conflict in Cote d'lvoire. We are aware of the reported attacks on civilians in Daloa. Together with our EU partners, we have called on the Ivorian Government to ensure respect for human rights, in particular with regard to civilian populations, and to bring to justice those responsible for any violations of those rights.

Ivory Coast

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what guidance her Department has provided to her Department's employees working in the Ivory Coast.

Clare Short: DFID has one employee in Cote d'lvoire. He is working on secondment at the African Development bank and is, therefore, covered by their security and emergency evacuation procedures. Current bank advice is that non- essential staff and all families be evacuated.
	DFID is following the situation closely and we are in daily contact with him. He is also in receipt of the latest Foreign Office travel advice.

Ivory Coast

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which organisations her Department supports that work in the Ivory Coast.

Clare Short: DFID support to Cote d'lvoire is channelled primarily through UK contributions to the EC and other multilateral organisations such as the World bank and UN agencies. Direct assistance to Cote d'lvoire is limited to financial contributions that we make to the West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA) in Bouake and a Small Grants Scheme, administered by the British ambassador in Abidjan. Beneficiaries of the scheme are mainly Ivorian NGO's.

Ivory Coast

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the number of internally displaced people in the Ivory Coast; and what assistance her Department is providing to these people.

Clare Short: Although DFID has not undertaken its own independent assessment we are in contact with those UN agencies in the field that are monitoring the situation closely. The UK was represented at the UN Emergency Regional Contingency Planning meeting in Accra on 17 and 18 October which was called to discuss the humanitarian position. Their assessment of the likely humanitarian needs is awaited before we consider how the UK will respond.

Uganda

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to promote multiparty democracy in Uganda.

Clare Short: We are engaged in frequent dialogue with the Government and Civil Society on a range of initiatives to promote the democratic checks and balances, and the rules-based political competition, that are the key to democratic systems worldwide.

Uganda

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the recent massacres in Uganda by the Lord's Resistance Army; and what discussions her Department has had with the government of Uganda concerning these massacres.

Clare Short: We have over many years raised our concerns over the security and humanitarian situation in northern Uganda with President Museveni, both bilaterally and with other EU Missions. We condemn LRA atrocities and recognise the Ugandan Government's need to respond militarily. But we have also encouraged the Ugandan Government to pursue all possible avenues for dialogue.

Uganda

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action her Department has taken to encourage the establishment of multi-party democracy in Uganda following the passing of the Political Parties and Organisations Act of 2 July.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	We have for some time been engaged in a regular dialogue with the Government of Uganda on the future shape of the Ugandan political landscape. Since the Political Parties and Organisations Act came into force on 2 June, we have continued to urge President Museveni and senior Ugandan Ministers to allow political parties to develop and organise, so that they are able to participate fully in the 2006 elections.
	We are working on a range of initiatives to promote democracy. These form an important element of our development programme in Uganda.

United Nations Environment Programme Report

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether her Department has received a copy of UNEP's Report, Global Environment Outlook 3; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: My Department has received a copy of UNEP's Global Environment Outlook 3. It is a very useful reference document which we will take into account in our own monitoring of global environmental trends and their impact on developing countries. In this context we were pleased by the successful conclusion of the negotiations of the third replenishment of the Global Environment Facility last August. The UK has increased its share in the GEF, and will provide #118 million over the next four years, including a voluntary contribution of #15 million.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Assets Recovery Agency

Clive Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce the first Director of the Assets Recovery Agency, established under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Bob Ainsworth: I am pleased to announce the appointment of Jane Earl as Director-designate of the Assets Recovery Agency. I expect that she will take up her appointment as Director in the new year, in time for the Agency to start operations next February.

Asylum Applications (Northern Ireland)

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been paid to the PSNI and RUC, during each of the last three years, in respect of costs incurred in processing asylum applications made in Northern Ireland.

Beverley Hughes: No payments have been made by the Secretary of State for the Home Department to the Police Service for Northern Ireland (PSNI) and Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) in respect of costs incurred in processing asylum applications made in Northern Ireland during the past three years.

Asylum Costs (Dumfries and Galloway)

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been paid to Dumfries and Galloway constabulary in respect of costs incurred in processing asylum applications in each of the last three years.

Beverley Hughes: The Immigration Service has paid Dumfries and Galloway constabulary the following:
	
		
			  # 
		
		
			 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2000 1,950.97 
			 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2001 2,889.50 
			 1 April 2002 to 31 October 2002 32,437.26 
		
	
	The figures for asylum applications are not available. These figures relate to costs related to dealing with immigration offenders.

Correspondence

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letters of 17 June and 9 September to the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells regarding Yuriy Urchenko, a constituent.

Beverley Hughes: My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office wrote an interim reply to the hon. Member on 4 October in response to his earlier correspondence. In light of the circumstances of this case, I have asked officials for a full report and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Drugs Trafficking

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to establish a new crime fighting fund to target the illegal drugs trade; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 28 October 2002
	The financial provision for the law enforcement authorities includes in 2002–03 #376 million for reducing availability of drugs. There are no plans to establish a separate new fun specifically for the purpose.
	In addition to that provision, in 2002–03 #70 million has been made available under the Communities Against Drugs scheme for fighting drugs and drugs related crime and for strengthening communities and a significant proportion of the Recovered Assets Fund of #11.7 million will go towards anti-drugs projects.

Recovered Assets Fund

Clive Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bids were submitted for funding in the second round of the Recovered Assets Fund; how many of these were recommended for funding; how the selection of bids was made; and if he will make a statement on when the next round of bidding will begin.

Bob Ainsworth: A total of 330 bids were received in round two (compared to 130 in round one) of which 27 (21 in round one) with a total cost of #11.5 million (#3 million in round one) were recommended for funding.
	The bids selected for an award of grant were those which were assessed as best able to meet the objectives of the Fund and as far as possible ensured coverage of a wide geographical area.
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I are currently reviewing the future use and operation of the Fund. Future bidding rounds will be dependent on the outcome of the review on which I hope to make an announcement before the end of the year.

Retail Crime

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many incidences of retail crime there were in each of the metropolitan boroughs in the last 12 months for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many incidents of (a) shoplifting, (b) armed robbery and (c) assaults in high street shops there were in the past 12 months;
	(3)  how many incidents of recorded crime in the last three years have been classed as retail crime, broken down by police force;
	(4)  how many cases of violent assault there were against (a) rail workers, (b) benefits agency staff and (c) retail staff in the last 12 months for which figures are available;
	(5)  how many instances of violence to retail staff were recorded in the last 12 months for which figures are available;
	(6)  what percentage of violent crime was against shop staff in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

John Denham: Recorded crime statistics do not normally identify the location of offences, or the occupation of victims. The one recorded crime which can be identified as retail crime is theft from a shop, and figures for each police force area for the last three years are given in the table. The figures may have been affected in comparison to the previous year as a result of changes to recording practices. Some police forces implemented the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in advance of its national implementation on 1 April 2002. This had the estimated effect of uplifting total recorded crime figures by 5 per cent. this year.
	Figures on the location of firearms robberies indicate that there were 1,323 robberies in shops in the 2000–01 financial year. This includes offences where air weapons, imitation weapons and unidentified firearms were used.
	The Home Office, together with the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI) and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), will shortly be undertaking a major cross-Government survey of crime that affects retail and manufacturing premises across England and Wales. More than 3,000 premises will be surveyed in each of these sectors. The survey will collect detailed information on the circumstances of crime against business, levels of concern about crime, the overall social and economic impact of crime on businesses and levels of satisfaction with police response and advice on crime.
	
		Recorded crime: 1999–2000 to 2001–02 in England and Wales
		
			  Theft from shops (number of offences)  
			 Police force area 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02(4)  
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 7,958 8,741 9,106 
			 Bedfordshire 3,007 3,105 3,663 
			 Cambridgeshire 3,630 3,743 4,024 
			 Cheshire 4,883 4,906 4,599 
			 Cleveland 6,365 6,228 6,916 
			 Cumbria 2,584 2,339 2,798 
			 Derbyshire 4,316 4,537 5,022 
			 Devon and Cornwall 6,346 6,414 5,853 
			 Dorset 3,088 3,011 3,180 
			 Durham 2,944 3,042 3,522 
			 Essex(5) 7,116 6,788 7,149 
			 Gloucestershire 3,471 3,697 3,670 
			 Greater Manchester 16,308 16,196 16,648 
			 Hampshire 10,234 9,674 9,311 
			 Hertfordshire(5) 3,328 4,060 4,424 
			 Humberside 7,188 7,487 8,075 
			 Kent 8,059 8,191 7,943 
			 Lancashire 6,680 7,123 8,050 
			 Leicestershire 4,398 4,184 4,593 
			 Lincolnshire 2,709 2,948 3,504 
			 London City of 619 650 755 
			 Merseyside 8,777 9,584 9,777 
			 Metropolitan Police(5) 48,015 41,713 42,522 
			 Norfolk 3,480 3,801 3,443 
			 Northamptonshire 3,348 3,107 3,451 
			 Northumbria 9,719 10,757 10,566 
			 North Yorkshire 4,053 3,949 4,304 
			 Nottinghamshire 8,533 9,226 10,113 
			 South Yorkshire 7,202 7,525 7,638 
			 Staffordshire 5,981 6,287 6,425 
			 Suffolk 3,118 3,404 3,072 
			 Surrey(5) 2,957 3,602 3,687 
			 Sussex 8,115 7,788 8,157 
			 Thames Valley 9,628 10,796 11,191 
			 Warwickshire 1,976 2,100 2,463 
			 West Mercia 5,732 5,792 6,443 
			 West Midlands 17,891 18,877 20,053 
			 West Yorkshire 11,864 11,317 12,735 
			 Wiltshire 2,623 2,509 2,544 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,656 1,503 1,427 
			 Gwent 3,213 2,909 3,085 
			 North Wales 2,708 2,890 3,681 
			 South Wales 6,674 6,580 6,726 
			 Total 292,494 293,080 306,308 
		
	
	(4) Numbers of recorded crimes will be affected by changes in reporting and recording (NCRS).
	(5) There was a boundary change on 1 April 2000 in which some parts of the Metropolitan police area were transferred to Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey, so that the police force areas followed county boundaries thereafter. The figures for these forces before and after this date are therefore not directly comparable.

Yarl's Wood

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if the events leading up to the outbreak of fire at Yarl's Wood Detention Centre on 14 February, with particular reference to the reasons why sprinklers had not been fitted at the centre, formed part of the inquiry of Stephen Moore into the incident; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list witnesses interviewed by Stephen Moore in respect of his inquiry into the Yarl's Wood fire of 14 February.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 4 November 2002
	Information about witnesses interviewed by Stephen Moore will be made available when his report is published.
	Stephen Moore's terms of reference require him to inquire into the events at Yarl's Wood Removal Centre on the night of 14–15 February 2002 and their causes and to make recommendations. His terms of reference also require him to take full account of inquiries being undertaken by the Bedfordshire police and the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, neither of whom has yet concluded their investigations.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the strategy is of coalition forces in Afghanistan; if they will take part in the provision of security beyond Kabul to achieve the ISAF effect; and what involvement in humanitarian activities they will have.

Geoff Hoon: Our objectives for the campaign against international terrorism, and for our forces in Afghanistan, were set out in the paper entitled XDefeating International Terrorism: Campaign Objectives", a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House of Commons on 16 October 2001. We continue to work towards achieving all these aims. As part of this, we are considering with our coalition partners who we might aid the Islamic Transitional Authority of Afghanistan to stabilize further Afghanistan's regions. No decisions on what that might involve have been taken.

Afghanistan

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will define the International Security Assistance Force effect outside of Kabul; and if he will make a statement on how it will be created.

Geoff Hoon: The International Security Assistance Force has helped the Afghan authorities to restore and maintain stability within Kabul. We are considering with our coalition partners how we might help the Islamic Transitional Authority of Afghanistan to stabilize further other areas of Afghanistan, but no decisions have yet been taken.

Fire Service Cover

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many green goddess fire engines will be deployed in the Portsmouth South constituency if the fire brigades union takes action; how many servicemen will man each appliance; from what duties they are to be withdrawn from to provide fire service cover; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Three green goddess fire engines will be based in Portsmouth. The command structure is designed to ensure flexibility when deploying emergency fire cover, and where necessary resources may be deployed from adjacent areas.
	Each green goddess has a crew of six per shift, with two shifts, each of 12 hours, providing 24-hour cover. The personnel involved may be withdrawn from a variety of other duties, depending on changing circumstances.

Gunwharf Site

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether the Ministry of Defence, in setting a figure for the disposal of the Gunwharf and HMS Vernon site in Portsmouth to Barclays Homes, took into account the Portsmouth City Council plan for the development of the site; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment has been made of the potential value of the redeveloped Gunwharf and HMS Vernon site in Portsmouth against the disposal value; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  whether the Ministry of Defence has reserved the right to claw back money on the Gunwharf and HMS Vernon site in Portsmouth if the development brief is altered to bring about a substantial increase in the value of the site; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  who advised the Ministry of Defence on the potential value of the Gunwharf and HMS Vernon site in Portsmouth; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

HMS Caroline

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much he has spent on HMS Caroline in each of the past five years.

Adam Ingram: The operating and running costs of HMS Caroline for the last five years are as follows:
	
		# million 
		
			 Financial year Operating costs (e.g, pay, travel and subsistence) Maintenance costs  
		
		
			 2002–03 (to date) 0.684 0.062 
			 2001–02 1.355 0.080 
			 2000–01 1.230 0.004 
			 1999–2000 1.116 0.034 
			 1998–99 1.013 0.029 
			 Total 5.398 0.209

HMS Caroline

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the dossier containing the history of HMS Caroline.

Adam Ingram: I have placed a brief history of HMS Caroline in the Library of the House.

HMS Caroline

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Department's use of HMS Caroline.

Adam Ingram: HMS Caroline served as the Headquarters of the Ulster Division of the Royal Naval Reserve since 1924 and latterly has been designated as the Reserve Training Centre. She is expected to continue in her present role for the foreseeable future.

Inflatable Tanks

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many inflatable tanks have been (a) stolen and (b) lost in each year since 1991; what the replacement value is of each lost tank; and what steps he has taken to improve protection measures for inflatable tanks.

Lewis Moonie: There are no records of this type before 1997. Only one tank has been lost since then, on 28 October 2002 due to very high winds, which exceeded tolerances recommended by the manufacturers. These tolerances will be re-emphasised to personnel but protection measures are otherwise considered adequate.
	The replacement cost of a single inflatable tank depends upon the model and its accessories and can vary from #8,000 to #14,000.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions (a) his Department and (b) the relevant military authorities at the British embassy in Washington DC had with the US Congressional Budget Office in preparation of the report of 30 September for the Chairman of the US Senate Committee on the Budget, with specific reference to the Report's estimate of UK force involvement.

Geoff Hoon: There have been no such discussions with the Congressional Budget Office.

Military Airspace

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of UK airspace is reserved for use by exclusively military aircraft.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	There is no part of UK airspace reserved for the exclusive use of military aircraft. There are some danger areas, primarily firing ranges, where entry is prohibited to all aircraft, civil and military. The airspace affected amounts to approximately 0.015 per cent. of UK airspace. There are other danger areas where access is permitted under certain conditions, amounting to a further 0.83 per cent. of UK airspace.

Missing Weaponry

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many issued (a) rifles, (b) handguns and (c) bullets were unaccounted for at each barracks in each month in Northern Ireland in the last year; what quantity of each was subsequently recovered outside the barracks from which they were taken; and what disciplinary and criminal actions were taken as a result.

Adam Ingram: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Nuclear Installations

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to paragraph 27, page 11 of the Government Response to the Defence Select Committee report on Defence and Security in the UK, HC 1230, with which authorities outside his Department he has had discussions in respect of the major programme of activities to reduce the vulnerabilities and strengthen the arrangements for consequence management at nuclear installations.

Adam Ingram: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is responsible for security at nuclear sites. Discussions have taken place with several other Government Departments, including the DTI, Home Office, Cabinet Office, Department for Transport, Office for Civil Nuclear Security, and the Health and Safety Executive, together with local authorities, the police and other emergency services, to review the protection of nuclear installations and arrangements for responding to an incident at any such site.

Operation Amber Fox

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Government's policy is on the EU taking over operation Amber Fox without signing a prior accord with NATO.

Adam Ingram: The Government's policy remains, as was agreed by EU nations at the European Council at Seville, that the EU is willing to undertake an operation in Macedonia in succession to operation Amber Fox, at the request of the Macedonian Government, once the EU-NATO permanent arrangements are in place.

Renegade Aircraft

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is in respect of the interception of aircraft assumed to be hijacked entering UK airspace in the London area.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 4 November 2002
	The Ministry of Defence has an established and well-practised air defence capability. This mechanism is ready to detect, deter and as a last resort if necessary destroy any aircraft intending to attack any target within the United Kingdom.

Sea Harriers

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated saving that his Department will make as a result of the early withdrawal of the Sea Harriers in 2006, from the time of their withdrawal up to the introduction of the F35.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 16 April 2002, Official Report, columns 821–22W, and 29 April 2002, Official Report, column 529W, to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin). Savings in years subsequent to these answers are outside the Ministry of Defence's short-term planning (STP) period, and are, therefore, not definitive. However, they will be commensurate in value with those in the answers previously provided.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

XEducation at a Glance"

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the conclusion in the OECD Report, Education at a Glance: Indicators 2002, relating to (a) the impact on school lessons of noise and disorder and (b) boredom among 15 year olds with lessons.

David Miliband: The OECD report gives a positive overall picture of UK pupils' engagement with school, with above-average scores against a series of measures. Noise and disorder were perceived as problems by 3 percentage points fewer pupils in the UK than the average across other OECD countries, boredom with school by 6 percentage points more.
	These figures relate to the year 2000. We believe good teaching and a good curriculum are the best ways to engage and motivate pupils. We have introduced a wide range of strategies to improve teaching and learning, including our widely- acclaimed Literacy and Numeracy Strategies. Since September 2001 we have been implementing our new strategy to improve the attainment of 14 year olds (the Key Stage 3 Strategy). There have already been major improvements: OFSTED now rate nearly 70 per cent. of lessons as good compared with 40 per cent. five years ago. We are also making it a top priority to tackle problems of bad behaviour, including a 50 million.
	Behaviour Improvement Programme from September this year to provide intensive support for schools facing the most challenging behaviour.

A-Level Students

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students left the A-level system one year into the course in each academic year since that ending in 1997.

David Miliband: Currently the only source of individual level data that allows the tracking of young people following the A level route is the Youth Cohort Study (YCS). The latest estimates from the YCS show that 9 per cent. of young people studying A levels in year 12 in spring 2000, were no longer studying them in winter 2000–01 (year 13). Comparable data on A level students in the years 1997–99 are not available.
	The Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC) was introduced in 2002 for maintained schools in England. PLASC will be able to provide information on the number of students in school sixth forms who leave the A level system after a single year of study from 2003 onwards.

Beacon Schools

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the planned development of the beacon school programme over the next five years.

David Miliband: The new advanced school programme that will be introduced in April 2003 will replace the beacon model in the secondary sector. There are no plans at present to make changes to the programme in the primary, special or nursery sectors, but we are undertaking a review of the programme to ensure that it continues to offer the most effective means of delivering our objectives.

Child Care

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many child care places have been created through the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative; how many of these offer subsidised child care; and at what level of subsidy these places are being offered over what period.

Maria Eagle: By June 2002, 1,000 Neighbourhood nursery places had been created and an additional 38,000 places are currently under development. Providers can receive funding of up to #5,400 per place over three years to make places affordable to parents in disadvantaged areas, as providers move towards sustainability in the long term.
	Parents who receive working families tax credit can also receive help towards child care through the child care tax credit.

Child Care

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of lone parents exclusively (a) use registered child care services and (b) rely on informal child care in Portsmouth, South; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The latest survey carried out by the National Centre for Social Research on behalf of DfES shows that in England, 29 per cent. of all lone parents had used formal child care in the past year and 73 per cent. of all lone parents had used informal child care in the past year. There is no information on exclusive usage or use of registered child care services. The study XRepeat Study of Parents Demand for Childcare" was published by the DfES in May 2002. This data is unavailable at constituency level.

Children's Centres, Battersea

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  when he will introduce children's centres to the most disadvantaged areas in England; and what plans he has to open children's centres for disadvantaged families in Battersea;
	(2)  what investment is being made to enable disadvantaged families in Battersea to benefit from Sure Start style services available to those in the existing Sure Start catchment area in Battersea.

Maria Eagle: The Government's recent spending review resulted in a significant increase in the combined budget for child care, early years and Sure Start, rising to #1.5 billion in 2005–06. The extra investment will support the integration of good quality child care with early years education, family support and health services through the creation of children's centres in disadvantaged areas, building on the good practice that exists in Sure Start and Early Excellence Centres. By March 2006, an additional 300,000 children and their parents will have access to health, education and other services through children's centres. Announcements about the location of children's centres will be made in due course.

City Academies

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many City Academies have (a) been set up and (b) been committed to be set up; and who the sponsors of each Academy are.

David Miliband: Three Academies opened in September 2002. These are The Business Academy, Bexley sponsored by David Garrard, Greig City Academy in Haringey sponsored by the Greig Trust and the Church of England and Unity City Academy in Middlesbrough sponsored by Amey plc. 20 Academy partnerships are working to establish Academies. Five of these have funding agreements which are legal contracts to establish an Academy.

City Academies

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether existing schools may apply to become City Academies if suitable sponsors can be found.

David Miliband: Existing schools may express an interest in becoming Academies. We expect Academies to be set up with the active support of the relevant LEA. For community schools, the LEA would need to publish statutory closure notices in order for an Academy to be established in place of the existing school.

City Academies

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what powers exist for the creation of city academies on a federated basis, by grouping schools under a common governing body.

David Miliband: Under section 482 of the Education Act 1996 the Secretary of State has powers to enter funding agreements with any person to establish an academy. This power is wide enough to allow funding of a group of academies with a single governing body which could be known as an academy federation. This is not connected with the powers under section 24 of the Education Act 2002, which allow maintained schools to form federations. Section 24 applies only to maintained schools not to academies.

City Academies

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether initial discussions about the setting up of a city academy have begun between his Department, the City of Newcastle upon Tyne LEA and potential sponsors.

David Miliband: Discussions take place regularly between officials and local education authorities about the scope for academies to play a part in their strategic plans for education. Officials have held such discussions with Newcastle upon Tyne LEA. There has been no formal approach from a partnership, of a sponsor and the local education authority, for an academy in the City of Newcastle area.

Cognitive Ability Tests

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if he will list the secondary schools in West Sussex which conduct cognitive ability tests in year 7;
	(2)  how many secondary schools in England and Wales conduct cognitive ability tests in year.

David Miliband: Cognitive ability tests for year 7 are commercial tests produced by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) Nelson which schools can purchase if they wish. As such the department has no records of their usage on an individual school, local education authority or national basis.

Departmental Circulars

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the circular documents that were sent by his Department to (a) primary schools, (b) city technology colleges, (c) other secondary schools and (d) special schools between (i) 1 September and 30 September and (ii) 1 September 2001 and 31 August 2002.

David Miliband: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Departmental Job Vacancies

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many job vacancies there were at (a) administrative assistant or equivalent, (b) administrative officer or equivalent, (c) administrative executive officer, (d) higher executive officer, (e) senior executive officer, (f) grade 7 principal and (g) positions above grade 7 level in her Department for jobs located in (i) London and (ii) the south east between 1 April 2001 and 31 March; and what is the total employment for each Civil Service grade.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 28 October 2002
	Information on vacancies in London and the south east region between 9 June 2001 (when this Department was established) and 31 March 2002, and numbers of DfES staff in London and the south east region at 1 April 2002, is set out in the table:
	
		
			 Responsibility level London region vacancies(6) London region total staff(7) SE region vacancies(6) SE region total staff(7) 
		
		
			 Grade 6 and above 10 127 0 3 
			 Grade 7 10 286 3 12 
			 Senior Executive Officer 15 217 2 8 
			 Higher Executive Officer 43 570 2 31 
			 Executive Officer 147 500 2 19 
			 Administrative Officer 64 322 0 4 
			 Administrative Assistant 0 76 0 0 
			 Total non industrial staff 289 2,098 9 77 
		
	
	(6) 9 June 2001 to 31 March 2002.
	(7) 1 April 2002.

Education Funding

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will calculate (a) the amount spent per pupil on primary and secondary education by Cheshire county council and (b) average amount spent per pupil on primary and secondary education by local authorities in England in the last financial year for which figures are available; what assessment he has made of the effect of the comparison of the resultant figures on educational provision in Cheshire; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The requested information is as follows:
	
		(a) Net current expenditure per pupil in Cheshire
		
			  # 
		
		
			 Primary 2,310 
			 Secondary 2,920 
			 Both 2,580 
		
	
	
		(b) Net current expenditure per pupil in England
		
			  # 
		
		
			 Primary 2,440 
			 Secondary 3,060 
			 Both 2,710 
		
	
	All figures in cash terms and rounded to the nearest 10.
	The data have been taken from Cheshire education authority's section 52 Outturn statement for the 2000–01 financial year. Variations in spending per pupil between authorities reflect higher area costs and greater incidence of deprivation in some areas. The Government will be announcing later this year the outcome of its review of formula funding for local authorities.

English as an Additional Language

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance he has issued to schools on teaching English as an additional language.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 30 October 2002
	The general consensus among practitioners in England is that the teaching of English as an additional language (EAL) is most effective where it is firmly embedded in classroom practice across all national curriculum subject areas. This ensures that pupils have the opportunity to learn English in a meaningful subject specific context. That approach is reflected in the guidance issued by the Department on teaching EAL as part of the national strategies on literacy, numeracy and Key Stage 3. Many schools use the resources provided through the Department's #154 million Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (EMAG) programme to provide additional tailored support for bilingual learners.

Full-time Students

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of (a) pupils achieved five GCSEs or more grades A*-C and (b) 17 year olds were in full-time education in each region in each year since 1995.

David Miliband: The information requested is shown in the tables.
	
		(a) Percentage of 15-year-olds achieving five or more GCSE grades A*-C or GNVQ equivalent in maintained schools in England, 1995–2001
		
			 Region 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 North East 36.1 36.3 36.8 37.1 39.4 41.7 42.5 
			 North West 38.9 41.0 41.5 42.2 44.2 45.7 46.1 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 36.3 37.1 37.9 38.7 40.5 42.1 43.0 
			 East Midlands 39.6 40.7 41.5 43.0 45.3 46.0 47.5 
			 West Midlands 37.7 39.3 40.2 41.3 43.5 44.8 45.8 
			 East of England 44.4 45.0 45.8 48.4 49.9 50.7 51.8 
			 London 36.8 39.0 40.4 42.1 43.6 45.0 46.1 
			 South East 45.4 47.0 47.7 49.2 51.2 52.1 52.8 
			 South West 45.7 46.6 47.1 48.6 50.2 51.3 52.2 
			 England (all schools including independent schools) 43.5 44.5 45.1 46.3 47.9 49.2 50.0 
		
	
	Participation estimates are produced using the academic age of the student (age as at 31 August). Therefore, the estimates for both 16-year-olds (the first post-compulsory year) and 17-years-olds are included. The figures are taken from the latest Statistical Bulletin, XParticipation in Education and Training by Young People Aged 16 and 17 in Each Local Area and Region, England".
	
		(b.i) Participation in full-time education by 16-year-olds in each GO region, 1995 to 1999
		
			 Region end 1995 end 1996 end 1997 end 1998 end 1999 
		
		
			 North East 62 62 60 61 64 
			 North West 66 65 65 65 67 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 65 64 65 64 66 
			 East Midlands 67 67 67 67 69 
			 West Midlands 67 67 66 68 69 
			 East of England 75 75 73 74 75 
			 London 75 74 75 74 75 
			 South East 76 75 75 74 75 
			 South West 74 75 73 73 74 
			 England 70 70 70 70 71 
		
	
	Note:
	Includes 16-year-olds participating in full-time education in schools, sixth-form colleges and other FE.Source:DfES
	
		(b.ii) Participation in full-time education by 17-year-olds in each GO region, 1995 to 1999
		
			 Region end 1995 end 1996 end 1997 end 1998 end 1999 
		
		
			 North East 49 50 49 49 50 
			 North West 54 54 53 53 54 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 52 53 51 51 52 
			 East Midlands 55 55 55 55 56 
			 West Midlands 56 55 55 55 56 
			 East of England 61 61 60 60 62 
			 London 61 61 61 61 62 
			 South East 62 62 60 62 62 
			 South West 61 61 61 60 61 
			 England 58 57 57 57 58 
		
	
	Note:
	Includes 17-year-olds participating in full-time education in schools, sixth-form colleges and other FE.Source:DfES

Individual Learning Accounts

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he will make a statement on the successor scheme to individual learning accounts.

Ivan Lewis: In June 2003 following the completion of our review of adult learning and as an integral part of our groundbreaking National Skills Strategy and delivery plan.

LEA Directors

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance he gives to directors of local education authorities about the use of their powers to call informal meetings of school governing bodies.

David Miliband: Directors of local education authorities have no powers to call meetings of school governing bodies, but may invite governors, either individually or collectively, to meet them. Paragraphs 24 to 32 of the Code of Practice on Local Education Authority-School Relations (issued in February 2001) give authorities guidance on their role in monitoring and supporting schools causing concern.

Newcastle Local Education Authority

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the Standards and Effectiveness Unit were satisfied by 1 October that the City of Newcastle Local Education Authority had a strategy for closing the gap between its GCSE target and the aggregated schools GCSE target; and if he will place the plans for targeting challenge and support for schools in the Library.

David Miliband: Newcastle local education authority (LEA) has submitted information about their strategy for meeting the LEA's targets for pupil attainment in GCSE/GNVQ. Education advisers from the Department's Standards and Effectiveness Unit are meeting all local education authorities during the course of November and December to take stock of progress towards their 2004 targets. The authority's strategy for meeting its GCSE targets will be one of the issues discussed at the meeting with Newcastle.

School Governors

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will place the guidance on (a) the conduct of school governor elections and (b) handling complaints about such elections in the Library.

David Miliband: School governor election procedures and associated complaints are determined locally by the appropriate authority, as set out in the Education (School Government) (England) Regulations 1999, Schedule 4, a copy of which is held in the Library.
	In relation to a community, community special or voluntary controlled school, the local education authority is the appropriate authority. In relation to a voluntary aided, foundation or foundation special school, the governing body is the appropriate authority.

School Governors

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) number and (b) percentage of school governor vacancies in each category of governor there were in each local education authority in Tyne and Wear in the last three years.

David Miliband: Information on the number and percentage of governor vacancies in LEAs is not routinely collected by the Department. Individual LEAs may collect their own information.

Schools (Newcastle upon Tyne)

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the schools in Newcastle upon Tyne that benefited from a special DfES grant in January 2002 for extra (a) classroom assistants and (b) headteacher support.

David Miliband: On 4 January 2002 my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Education and Skills announced the Transforming the School Workforce Pathfinder Project—which is working with 32 schools to explore new ways of working to free teachers to teach and raise standards in the classroom. The project includes funding for additional support staff and training for headteachers.
	No school from Newcastle upon Tyne is participating in the project, although Forest Hall Primary School in neighbouring North Tyneside is one of the pathfinder schools.
	The project runs until July 2003 and the lessons learnt will be shared nationally.

Schools (Stoke-on-Trent)

George Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funds were made available for (a) new school building and (b) schools refurbishment in Stoke-on-Trent in each year since 1992.

David Miliband: We do not hold information on the amount of capital investment for new school buildings. The following table provides information on capital allocations for new pupil places, and New Deal for Schools (NDS) funding to address the needs of school buildings in Stoke-on-Trent, since 1997–98, the earliest year for which data is readily available.
	
		Capital allocations Stoke-on-Trent -- #000
		
			   Of which 
			  All capital New pupil places(8) New deal for schools (NDS)(9)  
		
		
			 1997–98 1,631 196 900 
			 1998–99 4,629 335 2,799 
			 1999–2000 (10) 97,773 552 1,753 
			 2000–01 9,054 1,806 4,908 
			 2001–02 10,323 1,751 3,418 
			 2002–03 11,433 1,552 6,470 
		
	
	(8) Funding to Stoke-on Trent LEA for Basic Need
	(9) NDS windfall tax funding (1997–98 to 2000–01), NDS Condition (2001–02 and 2002–03), Modernisation (2002–03) and Devolved formula capital grant (2000–01 to 2002–03) allocated to LEA and Voluntary Aided schools
	(10) Includes #93million PFI contract involving all schools in Stoke-on-Trent, work to be completed in 2005.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Civil Service Secondments

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many individuals have been seconded to senior civil servant positions in her Department, in each case listing (a) from which organisation, (b) the duration to date and planned duration of conference and (c) source of current salary in secondment post.

Kim Howells: There are currently no individuals seconded to senior civil servant positions in the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

Civil Service Secondments

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many senior civil servants are seconded from her Department, broken down by (a) location, (b) duration to date and planned duration of secondment and (c) source of current salary in secondment post.

Kim Howells: There are current two senior civil servants seconded from the Department and their details are in the following table:
	
		
			 Location Duration to date months Planned duration months Source of current salary 
		
		
			 London Arts 10 15 London Arts 
			 Broadcasting Standards Commission 16 18

Cornish Language

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will recognise the Cornish language under the European Charter for Minority and Regional Languages.

Denis MacShane: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Local Government and the Regions today (UIN 79871).

European City of Culture

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the decision will be made on the choice of European City of Culture; and if she will make a statement on the method by which it will be chosen.

Kim Howells: The UK's nomination of European Capital of Culture 2008 will be announced in Spring 2003.
	Twelve UK cities submitted bids and on 30 October my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced a shortlist of six to go forward for further consideration. This shortlist was recommended to me by the independent Advisory Panel, chaired by Sir Jeremy Isaacs, which my right hon. Friend appointed earlier this to assess the bids against the criteria laid down by the EU and the Government.
	The Advisory Panel will undertake a further and more intensive programme of assessment of the remaining bids over the coming months, to identify an overall recommendation for the UK's nomination.

Interdepartmental Group on Sport

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the membership is of the Interdepartmental Group on Sport; what actions have arisen out of the meetings of the group; and if she will place a copy of the minutes in the Library.

Kim Howells: The Interdepartmental Group on Sport brings together the Minister for Sport and Ministers and officials from other Departments and related bodies with an interest in sporting issues. The last meeting included representatives from:
	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
	Department for Education and Skills
	Department of Health
	Department for Transport
	Sport England
	New Opportunities Fund
	Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
	Policy and Innovation Unit
	Home Office
	BBC.
	As I said in my written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, North (Mr. Gardiner) of 18 June 2002, Official Report, column 275W, the group was set up with the intention that those attending could discuss issues and ideas in an informal way, and in the knowledge that any contributions would remain confidential. It would not therefore be appropriate to reveal details of the discussions or to publish the minutes.

Lottery (Scottish ex-servicemen)

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many awards have been made by the National Lottery to ex-servicemen's organisations in Scotland, in each of the last five years; and what the total amount awarded was in each of those years.

Kim Howells: The Community Fund awarded 17 grants totalling #41,150 to ex-servicemen's organisations in Scotland over the past five years. The following2 table lists the number of grants and amount awarded for each of the five years.
	
		
			 Year Number of grants made Amount awarded (#) 
		
		
			 1998 2 3,513 
			 1999 5 6,143 
			 2000 6 14,164 
			 2001 2 9,110 
			 Total 17 41,150

Parliamentary Channel

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is on when free to air digital services should include video provision for the Parliamentary Channel.

Kim Howells: Since the launch of digital terrestrial television it has been possible to offer only an audio service for BBC Parliament. In its bid to the Independent Television Commission for the former ITV digital multiplex B, and in its subsequent application for a digital programme service licence, the BBC proposed to enhance this service by offering BBC Parliament in video on quarter screen. This arrangement allows the BBC to offer explanatory text simultaneously on screen in addition to the video service and to provide more services on the digital terrestrial platform. With the launch of Freeview this service will now be widely available.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Incapacity Benefit

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of severe disablement allowance aged under 20 years on 16 April 2001 have been automatically transferred to incapacity benefit; and how many of these are estimated to have previously claimed (a) free prescriptions, (b) free dental treatment, (c) free eye tests, (d) other healthcare benefits and (e) other passported benefits.

Maria Eagle: We reformed Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) in order to provide more support to young people disabled early in life who have never had the opportunity to work. 20,800 1 SDA recipients aged under 20 years on 6 April 2001 were automatically transferred to long-term Incapacity Benefit (IB) in April 2002, making them up to #28.10 per week better off.
	Depending on their circumstances, young disabled people receiving IB will still be able to qualify for help with NHS charges (for example, prescriptions, dental treatment, sight tests, money-off vouchers for glasses, wigs, fabric supports and help with the cost of travel to hospital for NHS treatment) on the grounds of low income. We recognise that some will no longer have automatic entitlement to this help but many in this group will already be considerably better off as a result of the changes we have introduced and it would be unfair to treat these people differently to other IB recipients.
	1 This figure is based on a 5 per cent. sample of the benefit computer system and will exclude a small number of clerically held cases. This figure is rounded to the nearest hundred.

Truancy

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment the Government has made of the consequences of withholding child benefit if parents do not co-operate in preventing truancy.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government are continuing to assess a number of measures related to anti-social behaviour, including actions to deter truancy. Once that assessment has been completed, the Government will come forward with proposals in the usual way.

Truancy

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish the proposed Green Paper on pensions.

Ian McCartney: The Government will publish a Green Paper on pensions policy later in the year.

Truancy

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) couple families with children and (b) one-parent families will be passported to the Sure Start Maternity Grant under the new tax credit scheme.

Maria Eagle: It is estimated that there will be around 250,000 awards of the Sure Start Maternity Grant in 2003–04 under the new rules. This compares with 201,000 in 2001–02. Around 25,000 of the additional successful claims will be due to the link to the new tax credits.
	Information on eligibility by family type is not available.

Benefit Fraud

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit fraud investigators were employed (a) directly by his Department, and (b) by agencies responsible to his Department in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The overall aim of the Department's anti-fraud strategy is to have a benefit system which is secure from first claim to final payment. The implementation of this strategy means than an anti-fraud focus is integral to the work of all staff in the Department, as is dealing with the wider agenda of error and incorrectness in benefit payments.
	The information currently available suggests that, throughout the period, around 5,000 staff have been employed by the Department and its agencies in work to investigate suspicions of fraud. However, taking account of changes in data collection measures over time and the integration of investigators more fully with front-line staff, it is clear to me we need to improve the validity and reliability of year-on-year comparisons, and I have asked the Department to undertake further work on this. I have concluded that it is not possible to make valid comparisons between figures year-on-year.
	I have therefore asked the Department to undertake a review to improve the consistency of centrally collected information for the future.

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 30 October 2002, Official Report, c. 874W, on incentive payments for postmasters who report suspected benefit fraud, how many payments of (a) #10 and (b) #25 were made in each of the last three years.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is in the table. The number of rewards has reduced as a result of the introduction of the Order Book Control System (OBCS). This is an electronic system that uses barcode scanning to alert a Post Office clerk that the order book presented to them has been reported lost, stolen or recalled. The order book is then impounded by the Post Office clerk. A reward would not normally be payable for order books impounded through the use of the OBCS. National rollout of the OBCS began in March 2000 and more than 99 per cent. of Post Offices were using the system by December 2001.
	
		
			  Number of #10 rewards Number of #25 rewards 
		
		
			 1999–2000 46,314 16 
			 2000–01 27,669 13 
			 2001–02 17,982 59

Benefit Payments

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what steps are being taken to help pensioners in rural areas without banks adjust to the move to benefits being paid to banks and building societies;
	(2)  how pensioners in rural areas without bank or building society accounts will be able to access pensions in January 2003.

Malcolm Wicks: Around 90 per cent of pensioners already have access to a suitable bank account.
	The Post Office currently have arrangements with a number of banks to allow customers to access their accounts at Post Office branches. This has already enabled banking to return to those rural areas, which have not had bank branches for some years.
	These arrangements will be complemented with the introduction of universal banking services. This will help ensure that benefit and pension customers, who wish to do so, can continue to access their benefits in cash at the Post Office. Universal banking services will consist of two elements: access to basic bank accounts and the Post Office card account. This means that those people who want to open an account should be able to do so, including those in rural areas who might not previously have had access to banking facilities.
	Our information campaign will take customers through the changes, including getting their money from their account at the Post Office. Customers will be supplied with information, which clearly sets out their Xaccount options" and enables them to decide which account is right for them. The changes in how benefits are paid will be phased in over a two-year period. Customers do not need to take any action until they receive a letter about the change. Until then they can keep their order book or giro.
	Although we will start to contact some pensioners in January to prepare for the change, no-one will need to change their method of payment until April at the earliest.

Benefit Payments

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families will lose entitlement to (a) income support and (b) income-based jobseeker's allowance as a result of the introduction of child tax credit; and what estimate he has made of the average income of those families affected.

Malcolm Wicks: All families who move from Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance to Child Tax Credit only will be entitled to the maximum amount of Child Tax Credit up to an annual household income of #13,230. These families can therefore gain considerably from the introduction of the Child Tax Credit.

Benefit Payments

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 15 October 2002, Official Report, c. 634–35W, on benefit payments, how the figures quoted relate to his Department's PSA target on the proportion of parents with care on income support and income-based jobseeker's allowance who receive maintenance for their children; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The figures are consistent with one another. The figures given in the answer of 15 October 2002, Official Report, c. 635W, on Child Support maintenance, are based on aggregates of:
	(a) for 1997, figures, for both total number of parents with care in receipt of the relevant benefit and the number of such parents with care receiving maintenance, for Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Family Credit and Disability Working Allowance;
	(b) for 2002, figures, for both total number of parents with care in receipt of the relevant benefit and the number of such parents with care receiving maintenance, for Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance and Working Families Tax Credit.
	The Department's Public Services Agreement target refers only to clients who are receipt of Income Support.

Benefit Payments

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if benefit and tax credit recipients who opt to receive payment via a Universal Bank basic account will be able to access their money over the counter at any post office branch.

Malcolm Wicks: Universal banking services will consist of two elements: access to basic bank accounts at Post Office branches and the Post Office card account. Benefit and tax credit recipients who choose to use universal banking services to access their money will be able to do so at all Post Office branches.

Benefits Agency Staff

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were employed in the Benefits Agency in the last year for which figures are available; how many staff are expected to be employed in (a) Jobcentre Plus, (b) the Pension Service and (c) each of the other bodies that are replacing the Benefits Agency, once they are fully introduced; and if he will make a statement on how the overall reduction in staff will be managed.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on the numbers of staff in the Benefits Agency at the latest available point, 31 March 2002 is in the following table. Also included are figures for the Employment Service.
	
		Position as at 31 March 2002
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Benefits Agency 66,726 
			 The Employment Service 32,881 
		
	
	Note:
	The figures are whole time equivalents
	Jobcentre plus and the pension service expect their roll out to be complete by 2005–06 but individual businesses are still developing their staffing plans for the next three years.

Benefits Agency Staff

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions as at 1st October how many people received benefits and pensions, from his Department paid in cash at Post Offices; and how many of these, at date of commencement or other point prior to 1 October, have been offered the opportunity to have their benefits or pension paid directly into a bank account.

Malcolm Wicks: Approximately 58 per cent. of claimants currently receive their benefit and pensions in cash at the Post Office and 42 per cent are paid direct into their bank or building society account.
	As Automated Credit Transfer (ACT) became available for individual benefits at different times, it is not possible to say how many customers were offered the opportunity to have their benefits or pension paid directly into a bank or building society account at the time of making the claim.

Community Care Grants

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will (a) review the operation of Community Care Grants; and (b) introduce a system of grants for particular life events and needs, available to anyone on a low income.

Malcolm Wicks: The Social Fund targets the available help on the neediest people in our society.
	The Social Fund provides non-repayable Community Care Grants for vulnerable people in a variety of circumstances and we have already introduced improvements to the scheme. For example, the qualifying conditions have been extended to help people setting up home in the community who have been without a settled way of life, and we have increased the annual budget for grants from #97 million in 1997 to #108 million today.
	The Fund already provides grants for easily identifiable life events through maternity and funeral payments. The discretionary nature of the Community Care Grants scheme enables it to meet a wide range of needs which a wholly regulated scheme could not.

Contacts (Health and Safety)

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason there was a decrease in the number of contacts with premises by Health and Safety Executive inspectors between 1996–97 and 2000–01.

Nick Brown: The number of regulatory contacts made by Health and Safety Executive staff for each year between 1996–97 and 2001–02 is given in the table. Overall there has been a 3 per cent. fall in numbers over the period. The reduction is a reflection of the increase in both the quantity and complexity of HSE's reactive work in carrying out investigations. The numbers of investigations has increased from 27,889 in 1996–97 to 37,855 in 2001–02, a rise of 35 per cent.
	A balanced programme of inspections and investigations is necessary to secure improvements in workplace health and safety.
	The majority of regulatory contacts were made by inspectors; a small proportion, approximately 10,000 in 2001–02, were made by workplace contact officers (WCOs). The WCOs are a small team dedicated to providing advice and information specifically to small and medium sized enterprises.
	
		
			  Regulatory contacts 
		
		
			 1996–97 205,000 
			 1997–98 186,000 
			 1998–99 183,000 
			 1999–2000 185,496 
			 2000–01 192,693 
			 2001–02 195,695 
		
	
	Note:
	A regulatory contact includes preventive inspections, investigators, advisory visits, and enforcement visits.

Deferred Pensions

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have opted to defer receiving their basic state pension in each year since 1988; and what the average length of time is for which people have chosen to defer their pension.

Ian McCartney: The information is not available in the format requested that around three per cent of people who reached state pension age five years ago deferred claiming their basic state pension. On average, these individuals deferred their basic state pension for almost two years.
	Notes:
	1. Estimates are based on the latest March 2002 RP admin data and the Government Actuary's Department mid-year population estimates.
	2. Figures are for Great Britain

Employment Action Teams

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria were used to decide the electoral wards of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne that have the service of employment action teams; how those wards scored on those criteria; how (a) Wingrove, (b) Fenham, (c) Blakelaw, (d) Moorside and (e) Sandyford wards scored on those criteria; and when the criteria will next be reviewed.

Nick Brown: The wards being targeted by the Newcastle upon Tyne Action Team for Jobs were selected because their working age employment rate was 58.5 per cent. or below, at 10 April 2001 when selection took place. All other wards in the City of Newcastle local authority area, including Wingrove, Fenham, Blakelaw, Moorside and Sandyford, had employment rates above this figure at the time of selection. The wards targeted by the Action Team will be reviewed if there is a significant depopulation of the client groups in any of them.

Girocheques

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the annual administrative cost is of sending girocheques to Mrs Kathleen Lonsdale of Westerlands Residential Home Kingsbridge.

Malcolm Wicks: Information about individuals is confidential and not disclosed under part 2 paragraph 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government information.
	However, the current administrative cost of sending on girocheque is #1.47

Injuries

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the record of the Health and Safety Executive in investigating (a) reported major injuries to trainees and (b) major injuries to people on work experience in the last year for which figures are available.

Nick Brown: The Health and Safety Executive does not highlight or target any particular group of workers when selecting incidents for investigation, all workers are treated the same. Enforcement of health and safety is conducted according to the HSC's published Enforcement Policy Statement (EPS). Major injuries to trainees and to people on work experience are likely to satisfy criteria published in the EPS and if they do, would be selected for investigation.

New Deal

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) young people, (b) over 50s and (c) people with a disability have signed up for the New Deal in Tamworth.

Nick Brown: The available information is in the table.
	
		
			 Programme Cumulative number of participants in the Tamworth constituency 
		
		
			 New Deal for young people (NDYP) 1,150 
			 New Deal 50 plus 130 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are from start of the programme to June 2002 for NDYP, and to August 2002 for New Deal 50 plus.
	2. Constituency level information is not available for the New Deal for disabled people.

Pension Schemes

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pension schemes have started the winding-up process in each year since 1997; and how many pension scheme members have been affected in each year as a result, broken down into (a) pensioners and (b) people who had not retired when the winding-up began.

Ian McCartney: The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
	
		
			 Year Number of schemes started to wind up Number of members in schemes started to wind up 
		
		
			 1997 84 10,271 
			 1998 113 2,309 
			 1999 4,287 101.236 
			 2000 1,903 74,403 
			 2001 2,206 73,038 
			 2002(11) 1,405 40,158 
		
	
	(11) To date
	Notes:
	1. The information is based on data held by the Pension Schemes Registry (PSR). It includes all types of pension schemes. The figures are for calendar years.
	2. The figures are the sum of those live schemes that have reported they are winding up and those schemes accepted by the PSR as winding up. The latter are schemes where the principal employer has gone into liquidation and they were the sole trustees. The figures do not include schemes that may not have reported to the PSR.
	3. The PSR system holds information on the most recent change in scheme status, so schemes which were frozen or closed in earlier years may figure in the wind up figures for a later year. Trustees are required to report changes within 12 months so there is likely to be a lag before the data reflects what is happening currently.
	4. Before 1997 figures for starting the wind up of schemes were not categorised:they were subsumed within figures for live scheme. The category of schemes in the process of wind up was introduced gradually. The category for schemes notifying that they were winding up was introduced before the category for schemes accepted by the PSR as winding up. Where an actual date was unavailable the current date was used.
	5. The information related to schemes, not employers. Some employers operate several schemes.
	6. The numbers of members shown include active, deferred and pensioner members. PSR does not hold data broken down by type of member, as this is not required for their purposes.

Post Office (Benefits Access)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what safeguards will be put in place to protect the interests of post office customers who open bank accounts in order to access their benefits, pensions and child benefits.

Malcolm Wicks: We understand that some customers will be concerned about the forthcoming changes. We have designed the new system with their needs in mind. For example, pensioners have told us that two of the most important things for them were to still be able to collect their money from the post office and also to be able to continue to collect it weekly. Both of these options will be available.
	Our information campaign will take customers through the changes, including getting their money from their account at the post office. Customers will be supplied with information which clearly sets out their account options and enables them to decide which account best meets their needs and circumstances. Customers do not need to take any action until they receive a letter about the change.

Social Fund Loans

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what measures are being taken to require social fund staff to ensure that applicants are properly advised on the type of payment most helpful to them;
	(2)  if he will implement the recommendation of the social fund commissioner for his Department to put in place a system to manage the quality of advice given to people and the appropriateness of application forms issued by office staff;
	(3)  if he will review the guidance and training for social fund staff administering funeral payments;
	(4)  if he will ensure that those in contact with the recently bereaved are able to give those people accurate information about the social fund funeral payments.

Malcolm Wicks: We share the social fund commissioner's view that people should receive good quality advice. Although existing procedures are already designed to provide high standards of service delivery, the Department is currently examining what improvements are possible in this area.
	The Department continues to work to improve the training and guidance it gives its staff, including non social fund staff who have contact with customers. Any instance where an office gives wrong information will be investigated and the Independent Review Service has now agreed to provide the Department with details of any such cases that it becomes aware of.
	We recognise that bereavement is very distressing and training and guidance for staff reinforces the message of sensitivity when dealing with claims for funeral payments and the need to provide accurate advice and information to customers.

Workplace Inspections

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason the number of inspections of workplaces by the Health and Safety Executive reduced in the last five years.

Nick Brown: The reduction in numbers of preventive inspections from 116,652 in 1996–97 to 75,237 in 2001–02 is a reflection of the increase in both the quantity and complexity of HSE's reactive work in carrying out investigations. The numbers of investigations has increased from 27,889 in 1996–97 to 37,855 in 2001–02, a rise of 35 per cent.
	A balanced programme of inspections and investigations is necessary to secure improvements in workplace health and safety.

Benefits

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will undertake simulation modelling of the distributional impact of his policies taking account of predicted levels and patterns of non take-up of entitlement to benefits; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The distributional impact of policies is assessed by the Department, when it is appropriate and robust to do so, by using simulation modelling based on the Family Resources Survey. The process of making these estimates involves making assumptions regarding the level of take-up of entitlement to income-related benefits. The precise nature of these estimates and assumptions depends upon the context being modelled; we do not explicitly predict patterns of take-up.

Communications Data

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officers in his Department and officers authorised by him he estimates will be permitted to seek access to communications data as defined in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; how many times his Department or such officials sought access to such data from communications providers including Internet service providers under the Data Protection Act 1998 in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department is currently making use of powers under the Social Security Fraud Act 2001 which allow authorised officers to require information, including communications data, from the financial, utility and educational sectors to find evidence of fraud. Powers like these will help us continue our crackdown on fraud and make sure that the right benefits go to the right people.
	These powers were commenced on 30 April 2002 and 114 officers have so far been authorised by my right hon. Friend. This is in line with our commitment made during passage of the legislation that there would be no more than 300 authorised officers in the department at any one time. In addition, 66 local authority officers have been authorised by their chief executives or chief finance officers.
	Information is not held centrally on the number of requests made for data under the Data Protection Act 1998, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Social Fund

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to adopt the recommendation in his Department's Research Report 172, Social Fund use amongst older people, to establish a separate Social Fund for minimum income guarantee claimants as part of the new Pension Service.

Ian McCartney: The Government are committed to improving the service currently provided to today's and future pensioners. The Pension Service has replaced the Benefits Agency services for pensioners from 1 April 2002, and is working to introduce an improved service tailored to the needs of pensioners. The Pension Service has been developed as a customer-focused organisation after researching what customers need and expect from the Government in relation to pensions business.
	The Pension Service will play a crucial role in both tackling pensioner poverty and encouraging saving by providing a dedicated service for today's pensioners, using modern technology whether they deal with us by telephone or through the internet, by post or face-to-face. It will also improve the service to future pensioners, by providing accurate information to help them make decisions about saving for their retirement. The Pension Service is committed to making access to benefits and services for pensioners, including the Social Fund, as simple and straightforward as possible.
	DWP Research Report No. 172 'Social Fund use amongst older people' raised some interesting and important issues. We are giving careful consideration to these issues and how best to address them.

Child Support Agency

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding has been given to the Child Support Agency in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: The running costs for the Child Support Agency are as follows:
	
		
			 Year to 31 March # million 
		
		
			 1996–97 213.4 
			 1997–98 213.7 
			 1998–99 208.4 
			 1999–2000 227.1 
			 2000—01 209.3 
			 2001—02 226.2 
			 2002—03 211.9

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Activity-led Funding Sub-group for Education

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will publish the report of the Activity-led Funding Sub-group for Education.

David Miliband: I have been asked to reply.
	A paper on the work of the Activity Led Funding sub group was discussed by the Education Funding Strategy Group on 9 September 2002. It is available on the DfES website at www.dfes.gov.uk/efsg/papers.cfm.

Arson

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many incidents of arson there were, broken down by (a) fire brigade area and (b) local authority in England and Wales in each year since January 1997.

Christopher Leslie: The table shows the number of malicious fires attended by local authority fire brigades in England and Wales between 1997 and 2000. 2000 is the latest year for which data are available.
	
		Malicious fires by local authority fire brigades 1997–2000
		
			  Number(12)  
			 Brigade 1997 1998 1999 2000(13)  
		
		
			 England and Wales 72,932 75,541 91,072 98,005 
			  
			 England 67,682 69,735 84,146 91,171 
			  
			 England (non met counties) 34,292 36,018 43,290 47,735 
			  
			 Avon 1,514 1,657 2,218 2,666 
			 Bedfordshire 824 780 997 1,273 
			 Berkshire 800 767 1,017 1,152 
			 Buckinghamshire 926 984 1,138 1,263 
			 Cambridgeshire 890 953 1,188 1,294 
			 Cheshire 1,129 1,149 1,229 1,332 
			 Cleveland 1,353 1,338 1,843 2,045 
			 Cornwall 347 393 332 426 
			 Cumbria 557 537 663 654 
			 Derbyshire 949 1,002 1,244 1,225 
			 Devon 959 948 992 947 
			 Dorset 643 521 684 799 
			 Durham 1,151 1,237 1,322 1,306 
			 East Sussex 857 874 1,116 1,346 
			 Essex 1,128 1,198 1,657 2,284 
			 Gloucestershire 527 544 553 639 
			 Hampshire 1,205 1,377 1,427 1,365 
			 Hereford and Worcester 610 549 692 706 
			 Hertfordshire 848 784 1,091 1,275 
			 Humberside 1,528 1,798 2,031 1,886 
			 Isle of Wight 87 68 78 84 
			 Kent 1,865 2,148 2,664 3,070 
			 Lancashire 1,968 2,117 2,532 2,534 
			 Leicestershire 1,345 1,469 1,671 1,664 
			 Lincolnshire 551 692 771 742 
			 Norfolk 850 859 858 1,106 
			 North Yorkshire 552 568 655 739 
			 Northamptonshire 929 991 1,195 1,366 
			 Northumberland 528 471 584 570 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,661 1,786 2,463 2,624 
			 Oxfordshire 645 772 787 960 
			 Shropshire 518 579 564 694 
			 Somerset 448 471 579 646 
			 Staffordshire 1,169 1,287 1,450 1,542 
			 Suffolk 386 381 461 600 
			 Surrey 570 609 724 881 
			 Warwickshire 535 506 664 721 
			 West Sussex 582 588 734 794 
			 Wiltshire 358 266 422 515 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 England (met counties) 33,390 33,717 40,856 43,436 
			  
			 Greater Manchester 7,271 7,231 8,467 8,887 
			 Merseyside(14) 3,562 3,691 4,755 5,348 
			 South Yorkshire 2,415 2,660 3,081 3,014 
			 Tyne and Wear 3,152 3,173 3,466 3,326 
			 West Midlands 5,900 5,480 6,762 6,970 
			 West Yorkshire 4,702 5,120 5,802 6,472 
			 Greater London 6,388 6,362 8,523 9,419 
			  
			 Wales 5,250 5,806 6,926 6,834 
			 North Wales 635 758 930 1,058 
			 Mid and West Wales 1,523 1,721 2,123 1,959 
			 South Wales 3,092 3,327 3,873 3,817 
		
	
	(12) Includes Xlate" call and heat and smoke damage incidents.
	(13) Provisional.
	(14) Includes estimates for a small number of incidents not recorded during industrial action (Merseyside July 2001 ).

Audit Commission

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister who is responsible for the selection of Audit Commission representatives.

Nick Raynsford: Section 1 of the Audit Commission Act 1998 determines that the Audit Commission shall consist of between 15 and 20 members appointed by the Secretary of State. Appointments are made jointly by my right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries of State for Health and Wales, having regard to the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice.

Audit Commission

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will announce the name of the new Chair of the Audit Commission.

Nick Raynsford: My right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretaries of State for Health and Wales have today appointed for a three year term James Strachan as the new Chair of the Audit Commission.
	I have great confidence in his ability to lead the Audit Commission, to which he will bring substantial and diverse experience.
	We are driving forward our agenda to reform public services. This appointment comes at a challenging time for the commission, especially with the implementation of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment of local authorities, its new housing inspection duties and the development of a proportionate and co-ordinated audit and inspection regime.
	More than 40 applicants were considered for the post and James Strachan was shortlisted by a panel comprising an independent assessor and senior officials from this Office and the Department of Health.

Cornish Language

Andrew George: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will announce whether the Cornish language will be specified within the Council of Europe Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

Nick Raynsford: I am announcing today that, after careful consideration and with the help of the results of an independent academic study on the language commissioned by the Government, we have decided to recognise Cornish as falling under Part II of the European Charter for Regional or Minority languages. The Government will be registering this decision with the Council of Europe.
	The purpose of the Charter is to protect and promote the historical regional or minority languages of Europe. It recognises that some of these languages are in danger of eventual extinction and that protection and encouragement of them contributes to Europe's cultural diversity and historical traditions.
	This is a positive step in acknowledging the symbolic importance the language has for Cornish identity and heritage.
	Cornish will join Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Scots and Ulster Scots as protected and promoted languages under the Charter, which commits the Government to recognise and respect those languages.
	Officials will be initiating discussion with Cornwall county council and Cornish language organisations in Cornwall to ensure the views of Cornish speakers and people wanting to learn Cornish are taken into account in implementing Part II of the Charter.

Cornish Language

Candy Atherton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what decision the Government have reached following its consideration of the case for recognising the Cornish language under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

Nick Raynsford: I am announcing today that, after careful consideration and with the help of the results of an independent academic study on the language commissioned by the Government, we have decided to recognise Cornish as falling under Part II of the European Charter for Regional or Minority languages. The Government will be registering this decision with the Council of Europe.
	The purpose of the Charter is to protect and promote the historical regional or minority languages of Europe. It recognises that some of these languages are in danger of extinction and that protection and encouragement of them contributes to Europe's cultural diversity and historical traditions.
	This is a positive step in acknowledging the symbolic importance the language has for Cornish identity and heritage.
	Cornish will join Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Scots and Ulster Scots as protected and promoted languages under the Charter, which commits the Government to recognise and respect those languages.
	Officials will be initiating discussion with Cornwall county council and Cornish language organisations in Cornwall to ensure the views of Cornish speakers and people wanting to learn Cornish are taken into account in implementing Part II of the Charter.

Empty Homes

David Kidney: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to give local authorities greater power to acquire empty homes compulsorily.

Tony McNulty: We have no plans to strengthen existing powers of local authorities to acquire empty homes compulsorily. However, we are currently evaluating the recommendation to allow local authorities to compulsorily lease empty homes put forward in the report by the Transport, Local Government and the Regions Select Committee on Empty Homes earlier this year. We will make a statement in due course.

Empty Homes

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government have to introduce compulsory letting of empty residential properties.

Tony McNulty: We are currently evaluating the recommendation to allow local authorities to compulsorily lease empty homes put forward in the report by the Transport, Local Government and the Regions Select Committee on Empty Homes earlier this year. We will make a statement in due course.

Executive Agencies

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans his Department has to alter the number and scope of executive agencies affiliated to his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: The work of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's executive agencies is subject to regular review. There are no plans at present to alter significantly their number or remit.

Fire Dispute (Buckinghamshire)

David Lidington: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Green Goddess fire appliances he plans to station in Buckinghamshire in the event of a firefighters' strike; where they will be stationed; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: Emergency cover in Buckinghamshire is planned to consist of a number of elements, including six Green Goddesses, three breathing apparatus teams, a rescue team equipped with specialist equipment, and the police. These will be based in Milton Keynes, Aylesbury and Marlow.
	The provision of MOD emergency fire cover has been planned in consultation with the chief fire officer to maximise the effectiveness of call-outs and the availability of a range of firefighting capabilities.
	The command and operational structure for emergency fire cover has been designed to enable maximum flexibility and use of available resources, whether from within a county or from assets deployed nearby in neighbouring counties. The deployment of firefighters will be based on the assessment of how best to respond to an emergency in the quickest time possible. The deployment will be kept under review.

Fire Safety

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what was the cost of the (a) 'Get Out, Stay Out and Call 999' campaign and (b) 'Fire Kills' campaign.

Nick Raynsford: Our total budget for fire safety publicity taken forward under the 'Fire Kills' brand is #4.8 million in this fiscal year. Of this, up to #1.8 million has been set aside for the 'Get Out, Stay Out and Call 999' campaign.

Leasehold Valuation Tribunal

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which (a) ombudsmen and (b) other bodies are able to investigate complaints against the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

Tony McNulty: Leasehold Valuation Tribunals are independent quasi-judicial bodies which are funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Parties who are dissatisfied with a decision of a tribunal have a right of appeal to the Lands Tribunal. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration can investigate complaints by someone claiming to have sustained injustice in consequence of maladministration in the way in which a tribunal administers a case but he cannot intervene in the tribunal's decision.

Local Authority Performance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress with the grading of local authorities under comprehensive performance assessment; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The Audit Commission carried out corporate assessments in all English county and unitary authorities this summer, and published the assessment framework on 21 October. They are on schedule to meet the White Paper commitment to announce the final results by the end of this year.
	Discussions are now under way between the Audit Commission, Inspectorates, and pathfinder local authorities, to establish the way in which improvement planning can best be undertaken.
	The Audit Commission is also currently consulting on the methodology to be employed in assessing district councils' performance as from January 2003.

Local Government Finance

Adrian Flook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what responses relating to the local government finance consultation 
	(1)  have been received from (a) Taunton Deane and (b) Somerset County Council;
	(2)  what impact changes in the local government formula grant will have on public services delivered by (a) Taunton Deane Borough Council and (b) Somerset County Council;
	(3)  what response relating to the local government finance consultation has been received from Somerset County Council relating to education funding; and when it was received.

Nick Raynsford: Both Somerset County Council and Taunton Deane District Council submitted responses to the Formula Grant Review consultation (including the education options in the case of the county) before it closed on the 30 of September.
	However, in addition the Government have received around 55,000 letters as the result of various campaigns relating to the Formula Grant Review. None of these campaigns was solely based around Somerset, but since the county is a member of the F40 group of authorities who campaign on education funding a number of those letters do relate to that council. We do not record the details of the senders of campaign letters as a matter of course. For this reason, and since very many of them are multiple copies of the same letter sent by the same people to different Ministers, a more detailed answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	We are currently taking decisions on the new system to replace SSAs. As we do so we are carefully considering the full range of evidence, pressures and points that have been put to us. We will announce the new system for distributing Formula Grant, including detailed grant allocations for individual authorities, at the time of the provisional local government finance settlement which we expect to be around the start of December. Once the Government have allocated their grant, decisions about budgets and services are primarily for local councils to make. However, we have already guaranteed that we will use grant Xfloors" to ensure that no authority will face a cut in grant next year on a like for like basis, and we hope to do better than that when we announce the actual floors and ceilings scheme as part of the provisional settlement.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many written representations he received in response to the Local Government Finance White Paper; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: As a White Paper, XStrong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services" was not a consultation document, and a detailed record has not been kept of all the written correspondence received following its publication. However, the number is about 50. The White Paper was preceded by a consultation document, XModernising Local Government Finance: A Green Paper", to which we received over 1,100 responses.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will give a commitment that no local authority will receive less grant money in real terms under any proposals contained in the Local Government Finance White Paper adopted by the Government; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will announce its proposals for the new revenue grant distribution system to replace Standard Spending Assessments, including minimum Xfloors" on grant changes, at the point of the provisional local government finance settlement around the beginning of December. We hope at that point to improve considerably on the interim guarantee already given that no authority will receive less grant next year on a like for like basis.

Local Government Finance

Nigel Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what research was done by his Department into the impact of dispersal and settlement patterns on the cost of providing rural services in rural areas as part of the local government formula grant review;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of rural deprivation in the local government formula grant review;
	(3)  what account he has taken of the cost of providing services in rural areas in the local government formula grant review.

Nick Raynsford: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Goole, Mr. Cawsey, on 4 November 2002, Official Report, c. 49W.

Local Government Finance

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many representations he has received relating to the consultation on local government finance as it affects Stockport Metropolitan Borough.
	(2)  what proportion of the local government finance consultation responses relating to the Stockport Metropolitan Borough have supported (a) each of the four published options for education funding and (b) a fifth option.

Nick Raynsford: We have two responses received from Stockport MBC and four letters from MPs. However, in addition Government has received around 55,000 letters as the result of various campaigns relating to the Formula Grant Review, including campaigns connected with the F40 group of authorities who campaign on education funding. A number of these letters do relate to Stockport.
	We do not record the details of the senders of campaign letters as a matter of course. For this reason, and since very many of them are multiple copies of the same letter sent by the same people to different Ministers, it is not possible to provide a more detailed analysis except at disproportionate cost.
	We are currently taking decisions on the new system to replace SSAs. As we do so we are carefully considering the full range of evidence, pressures and points that have been put to us.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects the provisions in the Local Government Finance White Paper will be implemented; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: An implementation plan for the White Paper was published last April setting out the planned dates for delivering the major proposals in the White Paper. It is updated monthly, and is available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website. There has been substantial progress, including consulting on a draft Local Government Bill that takes forward many of the proposals included in the White Paper.

Local Government Finance

Nigel Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what impact he estimates changes in the local government formula grant will have on public services in the Ribble Valley.

Nick Raynsford: We will announce the new system for distributing Formula Grant, including detailed grant allocations for individual authorities, at the time of the provisional local government finance settlement which we expect to be early in December. Once the Government has allocated its grant, decisions about budgets and services are primarily for local councils to make. However, we have already guaranteed that no authority will face a cut in grant next year on a like for like basis, and we hope to do better than that when we announce the actual floors and ceilings scheme as part of the provisional settlement.

Mobile Phone Masts

Peter Pike: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Cherry report on probable health effects associated with mobile phone base stations.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	The report by Dr. Neil Cherry on XTogether Against Masts" is concerned with an assessment of possible health effects that might arise from exposure to radio frequency (RF) radiation from mobile phone base stations (masts). It was to address such concerns that in 1999 the Government asked the chairman of the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) to set up an Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP). The group was chaired by Sir William Stewart FRS, FRSE and reported to Government in May 2000.
	A particular issue for the group was the exposures that might be received by members of the public from local base stations and the potential for effects on health. This is the issue addressed by Dr. Cherry. The conclusions in the IEGMP report were that:
	The balance of evidence indicates that there is no general risk to the health of people living near to base stations on the basis that exposures are expected to be small fractions of guidelines
	Measurements undertaken by the NRPB and the Radiocommunications Agency have confirmed that public exposures are very much lower than the international guidelines. Network operators have undertaken to ensure that all base stations will be designed and sited, so that members of the public will not be exposed in excess of the recommended basic restriction.
	The group were aware, however, that if people are unduly concerned about potential exposures then that in itself may affect their well-being. A number of recommendations of the group were, therefore, designed to provide more information to people about local base stations.
	The group also made recommendations for further research work. These proposals for research were principally directed as providing more information on exposures from mobile phones but also have relevance to exposures from base stations. It additionally recommended that there should be a further review of relevant research in three years time, or earlier if circumstances demand it.
	The Government welcome the report as an authoritative review of the scientific information available. It also accepted the recommendations and these have been taken forward by Government and by other bodies. A research programme funded by Government and industry on a 50:50 basis is taking forward the research recommendations.
	In coming to its conclusions, the IEGMP undertook an extensive review of the relevant scientific literature and heard evidence from 28 witnesses during the course of its work. It also organised five open meetings to hear the views of the public. Many of the references cited by Dr. Cherry were reviewed by the expert group. Professor G. J. Hyland, then of the University of Warwick, whose work is referred to by Dr. Cherry gave evidence to the group. The IEGMP also drew upon evidence provided by the NRPB and other organisations on exposures to RF from base stations.
	The further review of research findings is being carried out by NRPB's independent advisory group on non-ionising radiation. It is expected that this will be completed in 2003.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many equivalent full-time employees are employed in (a) non-departmental public bodies and (b) executive agencies affiliated to his Department.

Christopher Leslie: The latest available figures for the numbers of full-time equivalent employees employed in (a) non-departmental public bodies are:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Audit Commission 2,436 
			 English Partnerships 376 
			 Housing Action Trusts  
			 Castle Vale 99 
			 Liverpool 79.80 
			 Stonebridge 67 
			 Tower Hamlets 14 
			 Housing Corporation 605.86 
			 Standards Board for England 75 
			 Rent Assessment Panels 70.95 
			 Valuation Tribunals— 155 
		
	
	The latest available figures for the numbers of full-time equivalent employees employed in (b) executive agencies are:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Fire Service College 250(15) 
			 The Planning Inspectorate 710(16) 
			 The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre 50 
			 The Rent Service 790 
		
	
	(15) Including 46 lecturers seconded from Fire Brigades.
	(16) Excluding 126 fee paid inspectors which are not calculated as full-time equivalents.
	In addition, Ordnance Survey, a separate non-ministerial Government Department and executive agency, which is the responsibility of ODPM Ministers, has 1,840 full-time equivalent employees.

Park Home Reform

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his plan for Park Home Reform.

Tony McNulty: We are considering what changes in the law would be required to implement such recommendations in the Park Homes Working Party report as the Government have endorsed. The prospects for new legislation on Park Homes will naturally reflect the pressures on the Government's legislative programme. However, as, recommended by the Park Homes Working Party, a study of the economics of park homes was carried out and published on 29 October. We are also working with bodies representing home owners and park owners on such matters as creating a model constitution for residents' associations and model procedures for sales and assignments of homes.

Regional Assemblies

Andrew George: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 23 October 2002, Official Report, columns 389–90W, if stakeholders within the regional assembly can be individuals.

Nick Raynsford: The White Paper is not prescriptive as far as the definition of stakeholders is concerned. Organisations or individuals with an interest in the work of an elected assembly can potentially be considered as stakeholders.

Revenue Grant Distribution

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many representations he has received from residents of (a) Cheshire and (b) Macclesfield constituency registering their response to his Department's review of revenue grant distribution; when he expects to announce his decision following his Department's consultation; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The Government have received around 55,000 letters from the public relating to the Formula Grant Review, the great majority being as the result of various campaigns that have been organised. One of these campaigns was based in Cheshire, and we estimate that around 200 responses were received as part of that. Cheshire is also one of the constituent authorities of the F40 education funding campaign, and a proportion of the approximately 53,000 responses received as part of that originated from within the country.
	We do not record the details of the senders of campaign letters as a matter of course. For this reason, and since very many from the F40 campaign are multiple copies of the same letter sent by the same people to different Ministers, it is not possible to provide a more precise answer, or one for the constituency of Macclesfield, except at disproportionate cost.
	We are currently taking decisions on the new system to replace SSAs. As we do so we are carefully considering the full range of evidence, pressures and points that have been put to us. We will announce our proposals for the new system to Parliament at the time of the next provisional local government finance settlement, which we expect to be around the beginning of December.

Rough Sleepers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2002, Official Report, column 61W, when a street count for under 16s living rough last took place in (a) London and (b) West Sussex; what criteria is used to count under 16s in the street count; and when the Social Exclusion Unit will publish its report into young runaways.

Barbara Roche: Street counts were last carried out in London and West Sussex during March 2002. These found no one sleeping rough aged under 16. Anyone who is bedded down in the open air, people in buildings or other places not designed for habitation, including those under 16, is included in the figures.
	The Social Exclusion Unit hopes to publish its report on young runaways shortly.

Rough Sleepers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions his Department has had with the Home Office regarding police involvement in dealing with the issue of under 16s living rough.

Barbara Roche: The police and the Home Office have been key members of the Young Runaways Advisory Group, advising on issues for runaways when they are away from home. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also a member of the Missing Persons Cross-Departmental Group led by the Home Office. In addition, the police work with outreach teams across the country. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not had discussions with the Home Office regarding police involvement with under 16s living rough.

Rough Sleepers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many 16 to 18-year-olds are living rough in (a) London and (b) West Sussex following the last street count.

Barbara Roche: The street count carried out in London in March 2002 identified one person aged 18 sleeping rough. A full analysis of count information showing breakdown by age is not currently held centrally for West Sussex. When informed of results of street counts we would expect to be notified if a person under 16 is found sleeping rough.

Social Housing

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to (a) increase new social housing provision by 2005–06 and (b) set interim targets to reduce the number of non-decent social sector homes by 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: In his statement to the House about sustainable communities on 18 July, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister promised to return to the House with a comprehensive long-term programme of action to tackle a number of housing and planning issues. That statement, which will be made around the turn of the year, will set out how the additional funding announced in the spending review will be used, and what it will buy over the three years up to 2005–06. It will cover the points raised by the hon. Member.

Starter Home Initiative

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what were the (a) total allocated funds and (b) allocated funds used for administering costs for each scheme manager of (i) round one and (ii) round two of the Starter Home Initiative.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton North to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) on 29 October 2001, Official Report, columns 484–88W, and the reply which was given to the hon. Member on 30 October 2002.
	The total amount allocated for scheme managers' administration costs was #11.5 million for round one of the Starter Home Initiative and #0.8 million for round two.

Vehicle Fires

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many non-accidental vehicle fires there were, broken down by (a) fire brigade area and (b) local authority in England and Wales, in each year since January 1997.

Christopher Leslie: The table shows the number of malicious road vehicle fires attended by local authority fire brigades in England and Wales between 1997 and 2000. 2000 is the latest year for which data are available.
	
		Malicious road vehicle fires, by local authority fire brigade 1997–2000
		
			  Number(17)  
			 Brigade 1997 1998 1999 2000(18)  
		
		
			  
			 England and Wales 38,218 43,383 56,836 63,780 
			  
			 England 35,163 40,090 51,888 58,941 
			  
			 England (non met counties) 17,519 20,505 26,564 30,671 
			  
			 Avon 887 1,158 1,669 2,049 
			 Bedfordshire 512 533 727 962 
			 Berkshire 509 561 720 862 
			 Buckinghamshire 562 653 808 893 
			 Cambridgeshire 504 537 827 881 
			 Cheshire 432 567 619 667 
			 Cleveland 571 755 1,125 1,208 
			 Cornwall 178 162 169 239 
			 Cumbria 301 344 372 430 
			 Derbyshire 507 567 85 802 
			 Devon 442 462 499 556 
			 Dorset 285 317 401 476 
			 Durham 508 657 732 749 
			 East Sussex 455 520 716 885 
			 Essex 649 724 961 1,565 
			 Gloucestershire 265 256 290 354 
			 Hampshire 526 710 802 838 
			 Hereford & Worcester 299 311 415 458 
			 Hertfordshire 431 466 677 845 
			 Humberside 722 902 1,186 1,092 
			 Isle of Wight 22 10 21 19 
			 Kent 1,086 1,397 1,864 2,368 
			 Lancashire 821 918 1,229 1,170 
			 Leicestershire 752 819 1,075 1,057 
			 Lincolnshire 263 364 373 423 
			 Norfolk 411 436 489 696 
			 North Yorkshire 255 252 384 452 
			 Northamptonshire 550 632 763 942 
			 Northumberland 271 236 327 309 
			 Nottinghamshire 818 1,062 1,562 1,776 
			 Oxfordshire 373 478 544 686 
			 Shropshire 309 309 315 409 
			 Somerset 226 248 374 411 
			 Staffordshire 653 809 955 971 
			 Suffolk 164 148 222 326 
			 Surrey 329 381 508 629 
			 Warwickshire 343 397 461 506 
			 West Sussex 238 291 389 435 
			 Wiltshire 89 159 192 274 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 England (met counties) 17,644 19,585 25,324 28,269 
			  
			 Greater Manchester 4,042 4,130 5,166 5,723 
			 Merseyside(19) 1,569 1,838 2,568 3,124 
			 South Yorkshire 1,562 1,901 2,254 2,130 
			 Tyne and Wear 1,581 1,738 2,068 1,953 
			 West Midlands 3,044 3,110 4,154 4,424 
			 West Yorkshire 2,875 3,491 4,169 4,818 
			 Greater London 2,972 3,378 4,945 6,098 
			  
			 Wales 3,056 3,793 4,948 4,840 
			  
			 North Wales 274 314 488 632 
			 Mid and West Wales 991 1,221 1,631 1,520 
			 South Wales 1,791 2,258 2,829 2,688 
		
	
	(17) Includes Xlate" call and heat and smoke damage incidents.
	(18) Provisional
	(19) Includes estimates for a small number of incidents not recorded during industrial action (Merseyside July 2001).

Flooding

Joan Ryan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to amend the planning legislation, regulations and guidance for (a) the building of new homes on land located within flood plains and (b) for existing buildings in areas prone to flooding; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: There are no plans to amend planning legislation in respect of building new homes in flood plains or for existing buildings in areas prone to flooding.
	The Government issued comprehensive strengthened guidance on the operation of the planning system in regard to flood risk in Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 25 XDevelopment and flood risk" in July 2001. We said then that we would review this guidance in the light of experience of its implementation and effectiveness and the developing scientific knowledge on climate change three years after publication. In the meantime we are continuing to monitor how it is being applied through the Environment Agency's high-level target 12. The report for 2001–02 was recently published on the DEFRA website. It indicates that PPG 25 is already beginning to have an effect and that less than 0.5 per cent. of all new homes were subject to sustained objections on flood risk grounds. In the remaining cases, local planning authorities had considered the matter carefully before allowing development to proceed.
	To complement the new, stronger planning guidance, DTLR published XPreparing for floods" in February 2002. This contains interim guidance for improving the flood resistance of domestic and small business properties. It provides practical advice for existing property owners whose properties are at risk of flooding and for all those involved with construction of new properties or renovation of existing buildings in areas of flood risk. The Environment Agency, together with the Construction Industry Research and Information Association, has also produced guidance on temporary measures to protect against flooding (such as flood boards) and on what to do after a flood.
	In addition, we are working with the Environment Agency, local government, the water industry and others to produce an agreed guidance framework for the development of sustainable drainage systems. Such systems, which are encouraged in PPG 25, aim to control water as near its source as possible and thus reduce the downstream risk of flooding. They will help to reduce the potential impact on existing properties of flooding due to uncontrolled run-off from newly developed areas.

LORD CHANCELLOR

EU Green Paper

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what representations she has received from ADRs concerning the new EU Green Paper.

Rosie Winterton: The Green Paper on Alternative Dispute Resolution in Civil and Commercial Law was issued by the European Commission, and responses to the consultation were to be made directly to the Commission. We did, however, draw the attention of interested parties to the Green Paper and asked them to copy their responses to the Lord Chancellor's Department, in order that the UK Government response would be fully informed. Copies of responses were received from: Advice Services Alliance; Alliance for Electronic Business; Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution; Commercial Bar Association; Finance and Leasing Association; National Association of Citizen Advice Bureaux; UK College of Family Mediators; Morley and Scott (chartered accountants); Arthur Marriot and Henry Brown (solicitors with experience of ADR in both an international and domestic context). There may be other responses that have not been copied to us.

Fines (Prompt Payment)

Hywel Francis: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, whether it is her policy for a discount to be offered to defendants for prompt payment of fines.

Yvette Cooper: At present there is no provision enabling a discount to be offered to offenders who pay their fines promptly.
	The White Paper, XJustice for All", published in July, announced new proposals aimed at improving enforcement rates. These include offering a discount for prompt payment of fines. The measures would be piloted and evaluated prior to any decision to roll them out nationally.

TREASURY

Accesses to Communications Data

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2002, Official Report, column 918W, on the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, how many of the accesses to communications data in relation to Customs and Excise led to (a) the recovery of VAT and (b) the prosecution of individuals; how many of the accesses to communications data in relation to the Inland Revenue led to (i) the recovery of tax and (ii) the prosecution of individuals; how much tax was recovered; and how many individuals were prosecuted.

Dawn Primarolo: The information systems of neither department record the total tax recovered nor the number of prosecutions stemming directly from access to communications data. Consequently, this information could be obtained only at wholly disproportionate cost.

Ageism

Sue Doughty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the processes the Government follows to appraise companies on its tender list for their record with respect to the code of practice on age discrimination.

Paul Boateng: Individual Government Departments are responsible for taking decisions on the goods and services they acquire, taking account of the EC procurement rules and the Government's procurement policy of seeking value for money for the benefit of the taxpayer.
	In terms of the criteria for the rejection and selection of candidates for a tender list, these are defined in the EC public procurement directives, which are implemented in the UK by the following regulations:
	 (a) SI 1191 No. 2680—The Public Works Contracts Regulations 1991: Regulations 14 to 19;
	 (b) SI 1993 No. 3228—The Public Services Contracts Regulations 1993: Regulations 14 to 20; and
	 (c) SI 1995 No. 201—The Public Supply Contracts Regulations 1995: Regulations 14 to 20

Barnett Formula

Peter Duncan: To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the impact of New Opportunity Fund expenditure in Scotland on the operation of the Barnett Formula.

Paul Boateng: The New Opportunities Fund is a Lottery Fund. Lottery funds are distributed by the relevant lottery distributor. They are not part of the Scottish Executive's Departmental Expenditure Limit and do not therefore fall within the Barnett formula arrangements for determining changes to the devolved administrations' budgets.

Benefit Fraud

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answers of 5 February and 19 September, Official Report, columns 845W and 207W, when he plans to publish the September 2000 to September 2001 Inland Revenue benchmarking exercise into the level of fraud in working families tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 19 September 2002, Official Report, column 207W, to the hon. Member.

Borrowing

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on his borrowing plans for the remainder of the financial year;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the state of the public finances; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: Consistent with the Code for Fiscal Stability, an interim update of projections for the public finances will be published in the forthcoming pre-Budget report.

Cigarette Smuggling

David Burnside: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the number and value of cigarettes smuggled into Northern Ireland and the loss of revenue to the Exchequer due to such smuggling in the last 12 months.

John Healey: Customs do not keep separate records of the number and value of cigarettes smuggled into Northern Ireland. The vast majority of smuggled cigarettes enter the UK through the major ports and are then distributed across the UK.
	The Government will be publishing figures, for the UK, of the number of cigarettes seized and the latest estimate of the revenue loss from the illicit tobacco market as part of the pre-Budget report.
	The most recently published information for the scale of revenue loss in the illicit tobacco market is for the year 2000–01, and is contained in XTackling Indirect Tax Fraud" published in November 2001, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Initiatives

Andrew Turner: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer [pursuant to his answer of 24 October 2002], Official Report, column 441W, if he will list schemes and initiatives sponsored by his Department which are not the subject of national roll-out.

Dawn Primarolo: I have nothing to add to my earlier answer.

Domestic Fuel (VAT)

Alan Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what barriers exist to prevent domestic fuel being zero-rated for VAT; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Under long-standing formal agreements with our European partners, no member state is permitted to introduce new zero rates or restore a zero
	rate once it has been withdrawn.

Fuel Smuggling

David Burnside: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the (a) volume and (b) value of petrol and diesel smuggled into Northern Ireland and (c) the loss of revenue to the Exchequer due to such smuggling in the last 12 months.

John Healey: The Government will be publishing their latest estimates of the revenue loss in the Northern Ireland road fuel sector as part of the pre-Budget report.
	The most recently published estimates for the scale of revenue loss in the Northern Ireland road fuel sector, which are for the calendar year 2000 and include both revenue loss from fraud (smuggling, misuse and laundering) and from legitimate cross-border shopping, are contained in XTackling Indirect Tax Fraud" published in November 2001, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

Inland Revenue

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 22 October 2002, Official Report, column 218W, if he will list (a) the series of activities to enable the Inland Revenue to manage its records better and (b) the activities to enable the Inland Revenue to manage its records better which existed before the introduction of CR74; when the CR74 series of activities commenced; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue reviews its record management regularly to seek improvements. The latest exercise, internally called CR74, ran for around six months from the start of this financial year. It involved a check of national insurance numbers (NINOs) held on the existing records. Checking NINOs is part of the Inland Revenue's day-to-day work, but this was a systematic updating exercise conducted over a relatively short period of time. The Department has kept the updated records separate. It has also introduced better processes to trace and match the existing and updated records.

IT Contract

Martin Caton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the new contractor will be required to provide (a) an employer contributed final salary pension scheme for all employees and (b) a pay and conditions system that guarantees equal pay for equal value, including for sub-contracted staff, when the contract for providing IT services to the Inland Revenue is awarded.

Dawn Primarolo: The invitation to tender for the procurement will apply Government policy on pensions as set out in XStaff Transfers from Central Government: A Fair Deal for Staff Pensions". An incoming supplier will be required to adhere to this policy and apply it to all staff transferring to them. The incoming supplier will also be obliged to comply with all UK laws and regulations relating to employment and non-discrimination.

IT Contract

Martin Caton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether employees will be entitled to join a trade union recognised to negotiate on pay, conditions, pensions, career development and related issues when the contract for providing IT services to the Inland Revenue is awarded.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue regards human resource and personnel issues as an important element in the evaluation of any bid for the IT contract. The Department will therefore ask bidders to provide information on their intended human resources policies, including their approach to trade union recognition, as part of their response to the invitation to tender. The right to trade union recognition—along with any collective agreements—is one of the transferable rights of any employee affected by a TUPE transfer. Therefore any incoming supplier will be required to provide trade union recognition, where this exists already, for employees working on the Inland Revenue's current IT contracts. The Inland Revenue will oblige the incoming supplier to comply with all UK laws and regulations relating to employment and non-discrimination. The Inland Revenue is actively engaging both PCs and USRO in the procurement process.

IT Contract

Martin Caton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the new contractor will be subject to periodic independent reviews of performance when the contract for providing IT services to the Inland Revenue is awarded.

Dawn Primarolo: The draft contract requires the supplier to engage in a rolling programme of benchmarking to be undertaken by an independent agency to monitor performance. In addition, the Department has also specified rights for both National Audit Office and the Department's own internal audit office to be involved in reviews of systems and processes, in their respective roles, over the lifetime of the contract.

Landfill Tax

Alan Whitehead: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the yield of the landfill levy was in the last 12 months; and what proportion of it was contributed by local authority levy payments.

John Healey: For the 12 months to end of September 2002, total Landfill Tax receipts were 505m. All revenue receipts are published monthly in Table 2.1 D of the Office for National Statistics publication XFinancial Statistics". The proportion of Landfill Tax receipts attributable to local authority activity is not available, as revenue information on Landfill Tax is obtained via the return declarations made by registered bodies, and Landfill Tax is therefore declared by local authorities under their own registration and by private contractors who collect waste on behalf of local authorities and declare the landfill tax on their own returns.

London Stock Exchange

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he plans to visit the London Stock Exchange.

Ruth Kelly: There are no immediate plans for the Chancellor to visit the London Stock Exchange. However, Ministers have met senior representatives of the London Stock Exchange in the past six months, and also have regular contact with management from companies listed on the exchange and companies who are members of the exchange.

National Insurance

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 22 October 2002, Official Report, column 218W, on national insurance, how many letters have been sent to people that have been using incorrect national insurance numbers in the last (a) month, (b) six months and (c) year.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue does not keep detailed records of the contents of a substantial number of letters received and sent every day. Most letters sent by our staff cover a range of issues relating to a customer's financial affairs that may include or relate to the use of the national insurance number (NINO). It would incur disproportionate cost to identify letters sent to people who have been using incorrect NINOs.

Saving

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to increase the level of saving in the UK economy.

Ruth Kelly: The Government recognise the importance of saving and asset ownership in providing individuals with security, comfort in retirement and long-term independence and opportunity. The Government is implementing a saving strategy focusing on three central strands:
	creating the right environment for saving by maintaining macroeconomic stability and establishing a well regulated and efficient market in financial services;
	creating the right incentives for saving by ensuring that the tax and benefit system does not unfairly penalise savers and by assisting those on lower incomes; and
	ensuring that people have the information and financial literacy they need to make the right saving choices.
	Statements on the progress of specific policies will be provided in the pre-Budget report.

Stability and Growth Pact

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with his European counterparts regarding the future of the Stability and Growth Pact;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with his colleagues in the European Council of Finance Ministers regarding a review of the terms of the Stability and Growth Pact.

Ruth Kelly: The Government support a prudent interpretation of the Stability and Growth Pact, which takes into account the economic cycle, sustainability and the important role of public investment. We continue to discuss this with our EU colleagues.

Tax Processing

Matthew Taylor: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place the data on (a) outputs and (b) resources underlying the outcome target for tax processing work as reported in the Inland Revenue Annual Report (Cm5428) in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Productivity on tax processing work in 2001–02 showed an increase of almost 1 per cent. over the previous year. The Inland Revenue's Public Service Agreement for 2001–04 set out targets for improvements in productivity, over three years. The aim is to achieve, by 31 March 2004, an increase of 7.7 per cent. (cumulative) equivalent to 2.5 per cent. year on year. Initiatives are in place to achieve the step changes in productivity necessary to meet this target. The productivity index for tax processing is calculated by comparing a basket of outputs representative of this work with the staff time spent carrying out the tasks. These include Self Assessment and Corporation Tax returns captured, PAYE end of year returns reconciled and closed and repayment claims processed.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Fuel Poverty

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will give an undertaking to eradicate fuel poverty by 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy, published in November 2001, sets out the approach of the Government and the Devolved Administrations to tackling fuel poverty. It explains that the goal of the Government and the Devolved Administrations is to seek an end to the problem of fuel poverty. In particular they will seek an end to the blight of fuel poverty for vulnerable households by 2010. We are currently consulting on a clarification to the strategy which will set a target for the eradication of fuel poverty in respect of households other than those in the vulnerable categories. The consultation period ends 29 November 2002. We intend to produce an annual report on our progress in implementing the Strategy in the new year.

Fuel Poverty

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to increase public awareness of energy efficient products and services.

Elliot Morley: My Department remains committed to expanding the highly visible mandatory EU energy labelling for appliances and equipment. This also requires the provision of similar consumer information in catalogues and in other product literature which all serve to increase consumer awareness.
	We are also encouraging EU-wide voluntary agreements with manufacturers and service providers which aim to set targets for improved products and services and raise awareness of energy efficiency issues. One aspect of this is to provide reliable, public domain consumer environmental information about their products and services via point-of-sale information and searchable product information data- bases.
	The Energy Saving Trust, which is funded by my Department, encourages the sustainable use of energy in the domestic and small business sectors. Work includes an Energy Efficiency campaign to encourage domestic consumers to take up energy efficiency measures. The Trust also runs a product endorsement scheme which signposts customers to products that are the most—or among the most—energy efficient available and aims to increase sales of these products. Products that are accredited under the scheme carry the Energy Efficiency Recommended logo. Decisions about future plans for raising public awareness of energy efficient products and services will be covered in the Energy White Paper, which the Government aims to publish around the turn of the year.

Fuel Poverty

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to allow local authorities to set targets for the improvement of energy efficiency in stock transferred to registered social landlords.

Tony McNulty: I have been asked to reply.
	Local Authorities are already able to set such targets. The Housing Transfer Guidance 2002 Programme, issued by DTLR in September 2001, expects a local authority to ensure that each transfer proposal agreed with a new landlord delivers the energy efficiency targets that are implicit in the Government's decent homes target (to ensure all social housing is brought up to a decent standard by 2010).

Fuel Poverty

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with HM Treasury on the ways in which economic policies and instruments might be used to assist home energy efficiency.

Elliot Morley: Defra and HM Treasury have carried out a joint consultation on economic instruments to improve household energy efficiency. The results of thisconsultation will be jointly considered, in the context of the wider process of preparing the Energy White Paper, which the Government aims to publish around the turn of the year. Any decisions on possible tax changes would be a matter for the Chancellor to consider as part of the Budget process.

Fuel Poverty

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to develop energy efficiency indicators, targets and monitoring mechanisms for each sector of the economy.

Elliot Morley: The Government will respond to the PlU's recommendations in the Energy White Paper, which the Government aims to publish around the turn of the year.

Agricultural Subsidies

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the United Kingdom spent on assistance to agriculture in the last year for which figures are available; and what assistance was provided from EU sources.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 November 2002
	Public expenditure on agriculture in the United Kingdom in the 2000–01 financial year was #3,042million. The UK received #2,720million from the EU under the Common Agricultural Policy in its 2000–01 budget year. These figures include payments of market support, which may not have gone directly to farmers, as traders are also eligible.

Biofuels Directive

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department plans to take on the EU Biofuels Directive; what discussions she has had with those in the agriculture industry on the potential for production and use of non-food crops; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: Negotiations on the EU biofuels targets Directive are still taking place and are being led by the Department for Transport. It is anticipated that the outcome of the discussions will be a requirement for member states to set indicative targets for the use of biofuels as a transport fuel by July 2005. The Government recognise that liquid biofuels and non-food crops in general have potential for UK agriculture and regular discussions are held with farmers and industry representatives on a wide range of non-food crops issues. The Government-Industry Forum on Non-Food Uses of Crops, which includes representatives from the farming sector, was set up in 2001 to review market opportunities for non-food crops and make recommendations to Government on policy affecting their use. The Forum is looking at several non-food crop applications, including biodiesel and bioethanol.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the spread of bovine TB to farming areas restocked with cattle following the lifting of movement restrictions imposed after the foot and mouth outbreak last year.

Elliot Morley: All new incidents of bovine TB in cattle are recorded and subject to epidemiological investigation. The information obtained is added to the epidemiological database of information relating to the incidence of bovine TB in Great Britain.
	Defra has commissioned extensive research into the transmission of bovine TB in restocked herds, this will cover a period of two years following restocking.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets her Department set for the testing of cattle for bovine TB during this year's summer months.

Elliot Morley: TB testing is an important element in the control of bovine TB. Reducing the number of overdue TB tests to an acceptable level following the testing backlog built up during the foot and mouth disease outbreak is one of the Department's priorities and an additional #3 million has been made available to the State Veterinary Service in England and Wales this year to help with this.
	The uptake of testing is traditionally slower in summer months as cattle are out to pasture. While no specific targets were set for the testing of cattle for bovine TB over the summer Defra issued a press notice encouraging farmers to organise their tests. At the end of September the number of outstanding herd tests stood at just over 14,900 tests (down from 27,000 at the end of last year).
	On 9 October Defra announced a package of measures for the control of bovine TB in cattle in England. Part of the package is the imposition of movement restrictions on herds with overdue tests. Movement restrictions are being introduced in stages to reflect the risk of disease attached to overdue tests and taking account of the resources available to test herds.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many new cases have been reported of TB on farms in Gloucestershire in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 November 2002
	In the 12-month period 1 October 2001 to 30 September 2002, 216 new TB incidents were reported on cattle premises in Gloucestershire.
	The number of TB incidents reported depends on the number of tests carried out and the nature of the testing regime as well as the underlying prevalence of the disease. Testing resources over the 12 month period October 2001 to September 2002 were concentrated on herds with overdue tests following the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. These would have had a longer period in which to contract the disease. Those currently tested also contain a higher than usual proportion of high risk herds than were being tested prior to the FMD outbreak. As a consequence it is very difficult to assess whether there has been a greater increase in bovine TB than anticipated and it will remain difficult to interpret the numbers of incidents reported until the backlog of tests following the FMD outbreak has been cleared.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the interim assessment she has made of the cause of TB in cattle.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 November 2002
	Bovine TB in cattle is caused by the organism Mycobacterium bovis. Defra is funding a wide-ranging programme of research into how bovine TB is spread. It includes research into the nature of the disease in cattle; what factors in the environment increase the risk to cattle; the spread of the disease between cattle, and between cattle and wildlife; and the role of the badger and other wildlife in disease transmission. Research is still on-going. It is too early to draw conclusions at this stage.

Bushmeat

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost is per unit of X-ray equipment capable of the detection of bushmeat in aircraft passenger luggage.

Elliot Morley: The cost of X-ray machines varies with size and specification. Trained operators and associated personnel are also required, all of which add to the costs. Defra is investigating the potential for using X-ray machines to detect illegal imports of meat, meat products and bushmeat in passenger baggage and commercial freight entering the UK. Until these investigations are complete, we cannot calculate costings.

CAP Reform

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with EU entrant countries on CAP reform.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 28 October 2002
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my noble Friend Lord Whitty met Ministers from Poland, Estonia, Romania and Turkey in July. CAP reform was among the topics discussed. In addition my noble Friend Lord Whitty visited Hungary, the Czech Republic and Estonia in September and CAP reform featured in his discussions with agriculture Ministers there.

CAP Reform

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her European counterparts over reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Elliot Morley: Apart from regular contacts in the Agricultural Council my colleagues and I meet frequently to discuss this on a bilateral basis. Most recently I met with my German opposite number on 24 October and plan to meet my Spanish counterpart on 7 November.

Civil Service Secondments

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many individuals have been seconded to senior civil servant positions in her Department, in each case listing (a) from which organisation, (b) the duration to date and planned duration of secondment and (c) the source of current salary in secondment post.

Alun Michael: There has been one individual seconded to a senior civil servant position in this Department since its creation in June 2001. The details are as follows:
	
		
			 From Duration Source of current salary 
		
		
			 Warwick University March 2002 to March 2007 Warwick University

Civil Service Secondments

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many senior civil servants are seconded from her Department, in each case listing (a) location, (b) duration to date and planned duration of secondment and (c) source of current salary in secondment post.

Alun Michael: There are three senior civil servants seconded from this Department. Details are given in the table.
	
		
			 Organisation and Location Duration Source of current salary 
		
		
			 The Carbon Trust—(London January 2001 to April 2007 Defra 
			 Oslo and Paris Commission (OSPAR)—London February 2001 to February 2003 OSPAR 
			 United Nations Environmental Protection (UNEP)—Nairobi, Kenya August 2000 to July 2003 UNEP

Collection Bins

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to introduce amnesty collection bins for food products at UK air and seaports.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 28 October 2002
	We are currently consulting the Home Office, the Department for Transport, HM Customs and Excise, and the relevant ports and airports, on the issues surrounding the provision of amnesty bins or equivalent measures to encourage the surrender of unintended illegal personal imports.

Common Agricultural Policy

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under the Common Agricultural Policy dairy regime, what overall annual level of payments has been made to dairy processing and exporting companies in the UK over the last 10 years, broken down by type of (a) subsidy, (b) company and (c) product.

Elliot Morley: The table details expenditure on a calendar year for each of the dairy processing schemes and the dairy product based export refund schemes administered by the Rural Payments Agency (and previously the Intervention Board) from 1993 to 2002 inclusive. These schemes are prescribed by European Community regulation, but participation in them by the industry is entirely discretionary. Beneficiaries under these schemes include:
	Creameries and traders (suppliers to the industry).
	Manufacturers of pastries, cakes, biscuits, ice-cream, casein/caseinates and concentrated butter for direct consumption.
	Suppliers of butter to non-profit making organisations.
	Manufacturers of certain animal feedstuffs.
	Manufacturers, suppliers (wholesale and retail) and victuallers who export dairy products to non-member countries.
	The figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.
	
		Rural payments agency annual payments made to dairy processing and exporting companies in the UK over the last 10 years
		
			 Scheme 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total 
		
		
			 Butter for direct consumption 160 2,932 1,594 1,191 1,748 1,819 1,046 1,109 1,026 740 13,365 
			 butter for manufacture 0 0 0 0 0 23,100 36,271 31,700 29,520 20,851 141,442 
			 Butter for non-profit making organisations 5,613 4,471 4,349 2,303 2,893 2,405 1,586 1,008 1,115 746 26,489 
			 Butter for manufacture 51,808 48,897 57,234 36,307 49,009 20,539 86 0 0 0 263,880 
			 Intervention Butter purchases 0 0 0 6,987 36,612 18,586 16,677 15,467 4,646 18,986 117,961 
			 Control of casein in cheese 0 0 0 -1 18 0 -13 0 0 0 4 
			 Liquid skimmed milk for stockfeed 677 365 341 87 167 146 53 15 0 0 1,851 
			 PSB-Private storage of butter 989 1,595 668 353 441 590 626 1,027 837 571 7,697 
			 Casein and Caseinates 78 0 30 0 0 0 3,777 7,420 420 0 11,725 
			 Skimmed milk powder for animal feed 6,789 5,613 5,603 2,865 3,530 2,431 2,584 2,043 941 853 33,252 
			 Intervention Purchases 313 10,355 0 40,003 34,736 40,424 25,429 994 0 18,755 171,009 
			 Skimmed milk Powder
			 Skimmed milk for Russia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 859 0 0 859 
			 Skimmed milk powder-Export Refund 8,946 7,403 8,741 3,812 15,440 6,322 8,528 10,161 462 1,871 71,686 
			 Whole Milk powder-Export Refunds 39,776 51,935 48,789 49,315 70,343 57,177 50,595 48,352 725 4,322 421,329 
			 Condensed Milk-Export Refunds 47 20 18 14 11 9 7 7 3,551 476 4,160 
			 Butter and butter Oil-Export Refunds 9,366 11,247 7,873 1,544 5,800 1,114 1,428 1,531 1,429 465 41,797 
			 Cheese-Export Refunds 33,549 26,565 15,104 15,286 3,430 4,336 5,558 3,986 22,631 2 130,447 
			 Other Dairy products-Export Refunds 20,244 20,055 18,932 12,478 7,778 5,281 2,805 1,134 6 28,228 116,941 
			 Total 178,355 191,453 169,276 172,544 231,956 184,279 157,043 126,813 67,309 96,866 1,575,894

Correspondence

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will reply to the correspondence from the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed dated 24 January referring to correspondence dated 23 October 2001 which was referred to her by the Paymaster General relating to constituents who let holiday cottages in an area subject to foot and mouth restrictions.

Elliot Morley: My right hon. Friend the Paymaster General responded to the right hon. Member on 12 June. His original correspondence was sent to this Department inadvertently and was consequently transferred to HM Treasury.

Correspondence

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will send a full response to the letter dated 18 April from the hon. Member for Leominster on behalf of Mr. A. T. F. Brodie, a constituent.

Elliot Morley: A response was sent to the hon. Member on 1 November.

Egg Packers

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has, in line with the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food's recommendations, to undertake a formal review of the Supermarkets' Code of Practice in order to increase the certainty and security for egg producers by altering the Code in relation to contractual arrangements between egg packers and supermarkets.

Elliot Morley: We are in discussion with the Office of Fair Trading and the Department of Trade and Industry, which is responsible for policy on competition issues, over the Policy Commission's recommendations with regard to the code. Our response to these recommendations will be published in the Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy later this year.

Energy Efficiency

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what plans she has to expand existing domestic energy efficiency programmes;
	(2)  when she plans to develop a new strategy for home energy efficiency.

Elliot Morley: Decisions about current and future programmes for tackling domestic energy efficiency, including any future strategy, will be covered in the Energy White Paper, which the Government aims to publish around the turn of the year.

Energy Efficiency

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what improvement in energy efficiency in domestic properties by 2010 she expects to result from local authorities' activities under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995; what the predictions were in the UK Climate Change Strategy; and if she will make a statement on how the discrepancies will be addressed.

Elliot Morley: Circular 2/96 indicated that the Secretary of State expected energy conservation authorities' reports to show a strategy for making at least substantial progress towards a 30 per cent. improvement over a 10-year period. Improvement in the first six years is just over 8 per cent.. It is therefore clear that authorities are not going to make the improvements they originally hoped for. Decisions about the future role of local authorities in local energy efficiency are expected to be covered in the Energy White Paper, which the Government aims to publish around the turn of the year.

Energy Efficiency

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will list the (a) number, (b) location, (c) socio-economic characteristics, and (d) amount received of those households who have qualified for grants under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (i) since it began operating and (ii) allocated for future periods;
	(2)  if she will list the (a) number, (b) location, (c) socio-economic characteristics and (d) amount applied for of those households who have applied unsuccessfully for grants under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme since it began operating.

Elliot Morley: The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme is now marketed as The Warm Front Team, and is the Government's main programme for tackling fuel poverty in the private sector in England. The Scheme was launched in June 2000 and by June 2002 over 400,000 households had received assistance and some #200 million had been spent on installing measures. Warm Front provides insulation and heating measures depending upon the needs of the householder and the property type.
	The Scheme Managers provide, on an annual basis, information on the number, location and measures installed under the scheme to local authorities. However, socio-economic information is not colleted. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) on 15 January 2002, Official Report, column 275W. Updated information is not available and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Clients not eligible for assistance are not recorded. The numbers are likely to be significant and additional costs would be incurred in keying and maintaining the two Scheme Managers' databases. As an indication of scale, it is estimated that the two call centres handle in the region of 20,000 calls per week in the winter.
	The level of funding available for future years of Warm Front will be decided by the Department in the new year as part of the spending review process.

EU Agriculture Spending

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the procedures adopted by the EU if spending on agriculture in any year appears to be likely to exceed the budgetary estimates.

Elliot Morley: Heading 1 of the annual EC budget sets out expenditure appropriations for spending on the Common Agricultural Policy by budget line. In cases where expenditure for any line looked likely to exceed the appropriation the European Commission would be able to propose an in year transfer from another line within the heading. In the event of unavoidable, exceptional or unforeseen circumstances, the Commission may propose during the year that the budget be amended and submit a preliminary draft amending budget to the Council and the European Parliament. The Commission, Council and European Parliament would remain bound by the expenditure ceilings set down in the Financial Perspective and inter-institutional agreement on budget discipline.

Fallen Stock

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the disposal of fallen stock after April 2003; and if she will make available a free service of collection and disposal.

Elliot Morley: Since April 2002, the Government have been holding discussions with livestock and disposal industry stakeholders with the aim of developing a national fallen stock disposal scheme. At a stakeholder meeting on 18 September the collection and disposal industries submitted a joint proposal for a National Fallen Stock collection and disposal scheme. I intend to meet the industry to discuss their proposal. However, it is for the livestock industry, like other industries, to pay for the disposal of its waste.

Farm Employment

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many persons were employed in the farming industry in each of the past 10 years.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 November 2002
	The answer is as follows:
	
		Total labour force in England
		
			  Thousand 
		
		
			 1991 445.0 
			 1992 440.2 
			 1993 437.7 
			 1994 430.9 
			 1995 425.2 
			 1996 420.5 
			 1997 417.0 
			 1998 415.0 
			 1999 397.7 
			 2000 373.9 
			 2001 (20)386.8 
			 2002 (provisional) 386.9 
		
	
	(20) The figures for June 2000 and 2001 are not directly comparable. Between 2000 and 2001 a review of temporary holdings took place, which resulted in the addition of holdings not previously included in the census. If these holdings had not been included in June 2001 the total agricultural labour force would have been recorded as 368.3 (thousands).
	Notes:
	1. Includes estimates for minor holdings.
	2. The total labour force is that employed on registered agricultural holdings.
	3. The estimates include employees, farmers, partners, directors and their spouses where the spouse works on the holding.
	4. Estimates have been made for non-respondents
	5. Figures exclude school children but include trainees employed under an official youth training scheme and paid at Agricultural Wages Board rates or above.
	6. In 1998, fundamental changes were introduced to the labour questions on the June Agricultural and Horticultural Census in England. It appears that this change in questions may have led to the recording of additional Labour who were not previously included in the returns. We therefore advise caution when comparing the 1998 results with previous years.
	Source:
	June Agricultural and Horticultural Census

Farming

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what encouragement the Government are giving to young people to enter farming; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 November 2002
	One of the key tasks of Defra is to work with all concerned to develop an economically viable, sustainable, diverse and dynamic farming industry. Providing such an economic framework is the best way of encouraging young people to enter farming. My Department is preparing a response to the recommendations of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food; including its recommendations on entry into farming, and on ensuring new entrants have the right skills. An announcement will be made in due course.

Farming (Capping Levels)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with EU Farm Ministers about capping; what steps she is taking to increase the capping levels for UK farms; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 November 2002
	We have made our position on capping of direct payments clear whenever this has been discussed at the Agriculture Council or at meetings of officials preparing for the council. We oppose capping of these payments in principle and have not taken any steps to modify the proposal by altering the levels at which capping would apply.

Fisheries

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions her Department has had with (a) the European Commission, (b) the French Government and (c) other EU member states regarding the possible impact of (i) pair trawling for bass and (ii) industrial fishing methods upon the wider marine environment and the conservation of cetaceans.

Elliot Morley: Commission proposals for the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy include a commitment to bring forward proposals by the end of 2002 to reduce cetacean bycatch and to commission from ICES a study of the impact of industrial fishing on the wider marine environment. These are plans which the UK supports and will be looking to drive forward when they come up for substantive discussion in the CFP review process. I have written to Commissioner Fischler and to the French Minister pressing the need for action in relation to cetacean bycatch, particularly in the bass fishery: the researchers contracted by Defra to trial measures to reduce cetacean bycatch have been meeting contacts from France and elsewhere to secure wider commitment to this work.

Fisheries

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the total allowable catch of cod available for each of the fisheries management areas for which cod quotas apply has been caught by each of the member states entitled to catch cod around the seas of the United Kingdom (a) in each of the last five years for which figures are available and (b) so far this catching year.

Elliot Morley: The table containing the required data has been placed in the Library.

Foot and Mouth

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of compensation payments made in the foot and mouth epidemic are estimated to have been in excess of the market value of the animals destroyed; and what steps the Department is taking to recover excessive payments.

Elliot Morley: Compensation values for animals destroyed in the foot and mouth epidemic were set in accordance with the Animal Health Act 1981 and reflected the market value i.e. the amount the animal destroyed would have fetched at
	market had it been sold at the time it was slaughtered.
	Valuations were made by a large number of independent professional valuers operating as MAFF/Defra's appointed experts working on site, with the animals in view and with the herd history, recent herd transactions and historical knowledge of market price obtainable for the breed and category of the animal being valued in the relevant geographical area.
	150 valuations, about 1 per cent. of the number of valuations, were challenged where it was thought the valuations were excessive. The Department sought further evidence from the valuers on these valuations. This evidence was then scrutinised by the Department's professional adviser before payment was made.
	As a result of the scrutiny four valuations were considered excessive. Two were reduced and two others are currently in the Department's Arbitration Unit still to be resolved.

Fuel Poverty

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group about progress towards meeting the objectives of the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy; and how she intends to respond.

Elliot Morley: The Fuel Poverty Advisory Group was set up, following the publication of the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy—November 2001, to advise Government on the delivery of its fuel poverty targets. The Group is to report annually to Ministers. The first annual report of the Group is expected around the turn of the year. The representations made will be given due consideration.

Home Energy Conservation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations her Department received from local authorities (a) prior to and (b) following the withdrawal of the Home Energy Conservation Bill; and if she will list those authorities.

Elliot Morley: The performance figures for local authorities' progress with their HECA strategies compiled by DEFRA have been collected from the data provided by local authorities in their energy conservation reports. This data have not been subjected to a detailed statistical analysis. Nevertheless, in compiling figures and data relating to the overall position in England, instances where data provided by authorities was clearly incorrect or inappropriate have been pursued with the authority concerned, clarified and, where appropriate, and with the agreement of the authority concerned, amended.

Home Energy Conservation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions were held between her Department and the hon. Member for Brighton and Kempton (a) prior to and (b) following the withdrawal of the Home Energy Conservation Bill.

Elliot Morley: There were discussions between Ministers and the hon. Member for Brighton and Kempton at each stage of the Home Energy Conservation Bill. There have been no discussions following the withdrawal of this Bill.

Home Energy Conservation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she intends to adopt as Government policy the target of a 20 per cent. improvement in home energy efficiency by 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Government will respond to the PIU's recommendations in the Energy White Paper, which the Government aims to publish around the turn of the year.

Home Energy Conservation

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she intends to offer further financial support to local authorities to assist them in meeting their targets under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995;
	(2)  if she will make it her policy to fund fully the costs to local authorities of meeting the targets that they have set in their strategies under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995; and if she will make a statement on any other policies and incentives which she intends to use to ensure that these targets are met.

Elliot Morley: The Government have no plans to provide local authorities with the full funding necessary to meet the targets they have set in their HECA strategies. Non-local authority programmes, such as the Government's Warm Front programme and gas and electricity suppliers' Energy Efficiency Commitment, will deliver the majority of the improvements needed to meet these non-statutory targets. The full cost will therefore not fall to local authorities. Any new obligations the Government placed on authorities would, of course, be funded in full.

Housing

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment procedures are in place to determine whether (a) shelters, (b) bedsits and (c) houses in multiple occupation are fit for habitation.

Tony McNulty: I have been asked to reply.
	A residential shelter will normally be regarded as a house in multiple occupation for the purpose of the Housing Act 1985 and a traditional bedsit will normally also form part of a house in multiple occupation.
	Section 604 (1) of the Housing Act 1985 provides that a dwelling (including a house in multiple occupation) is fit for human habitation unless the local housing authority is of the opinion it is not reasonably suitable for occupation because it fails to meet one or more basic standards. These include that the dwelling is to be structurally stable, free from damp and serious disrepair; have adequate provisions for lighting, heating, ventilation and supply of water; have adequate facilities for the preparation and cooking of food; have suitably located toilet, bathing and washing facilities and an effective drainage system.
	In addition section 352 (1A) of the Housing Act 1985 sets out further standards which may be applied in relation to a house in multiple occupation by a local housing authority in its determination of whether the property is fit for the number of persons or households occupying it. These standards include that the property has satisfactory facilities for preparing and cooking food; an adequate number of toilet, bathing and washing facilities and an adequate means of escape from fire and other fire precautions.

Illegal Meat Imports

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what resources have been provided in the last 12 months to ensure that enforcement officers' searches of suspected illegal meat imports will take place.

Elliot Morley: Searches for illegal imports of meat and meat products form part of the normal duties of port health authorities and local authorities. However, in this financial year, an extra #1.5 million has been allocated for checks to be conducted by additional enforcement officers at ports and airports. Defra is matching funding with the Food Standards Agency to provide additional training for enforcement officers on import rules.

Illegal Meat Imports

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what additional measures have been taken to comply with the new rules and regulations which come into effect from 1 January 2003 regarding illegal import of meat and dairy products; and how much additional funding has been allocated to policing the rules and regulations.

Elliot Morley: The Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) Regulations 2002 will be amended to bring it into line with the new Commission decision on imports of meat and dairy products for personal consumption. Revised penalty posters are being produced, as well as updated information for travellers and airlines. Guidance to enforcement officers is being revised. Stakeholders are being informed of the changes.
	The Government have allocated an extra #1.5 million in this financial year for additional enforcement officers at certain ports and airports.

Illegal Meat Imports

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions there have been for the illegal importing of meat in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 November 2002
	Figures on prosecutions for the illegal importation of meat are not collected centrally. Responsibility for prosecutions lies with local authorities. We are however aware of one successful prosecution this year, which was brought by Crawley borough council in July. The London Port health authority issued six cautions in October.

Illegal Meat Imports

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to increase the checks made at ports of entry to the United Kingdom of illegally imported meat; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 November 2002
	Plans to increase checks at ports of entry to the United Kingdom are at an advanced stage. Additional checks started at two seaports at the beginning of October, are on target to start at a third seaport on 4 November. Two further teams will start work at airports on 11 and 12 November respectively.

Import Controls

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many representations she has had urging her to tighten import controls on meat from (a) the Meat and Livestock Commission, (b) the NFU and (c) others.

Elliot Morley: Frequent high-level meetings, at both ministerial and official levels, have been held with representatives of the NFU and, to a lesser extent, the MLC. Both the MLC and NFU sit on the Illegal Imports Risk Assessment Steering Group. Ben Gill, NFU President, addressed the Illegal Imports Stakeholders' Forum held on 21 March 2002. Also present were the International Meat Trade Association, British Meat Manufacturers' Association, National Beef Association, National Pig Association, National Sheep Association, World Wildlife Fund, UK Association of Frozen Food Producers, Local and Port Health Authorities, British Airports Authority and British Ports Association. Meetings of foot and mouth disease stakeholders groups have been held regularly this year, addressing the issue of illegal imports. We have also received a substantial number of written representations from individuals, and organisations including the Wl, Townswomen, Councils, legal firms and agricultural equipment suppliers.

Intervention Stocks

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her policy towards Commission allowances for intervention stocks to be directed towards deprived persons; what categories of recipients exist; and in how many instances the Government have applied for such relief in the UK.

Elliot Morley: The EC Surplus Food Scheme was introduced in 1988 to reduce intervention stocks and benefit the most deprived persons in the Community (those receiving income support, family credit, disability working allowance, together with those living in welfare hostels, and the homeless and destitute). The UK withdrew from the scheme from 1996 because of the reduction of EC food mountains.

Meat Statistics

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much meat was (a) produced in the UK, (b) consumed in the UK and (c) imported into the UK in the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 November 2002
	The following table shows the volume of UK home-fed production, UK imports and UK total new supply of meat for the years 1992–2001.
	Supplies indicate the amount of meat available for immediate consumption in the UK.
	
		000 tonnes 
		
			  1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001(21) 
		
		
			 Beef and veal   
			 Home-fed production 973 888 947 1,002 710 698 699 679 706 645 
			 Imports 206 209 190 212 169 217 152 183 197 253 
			 Total new supply(22) 1,014 885 844 880 799 901 842 853 892 889 
			
			 Mutton and lamb   
			 Home-fed production 401 402 395 403 383 351 385 403 389 265 
			 Imports 127 129 120 147 156 152 141 137 134 116 
			 Total new supply(22) 376 347 354 356 376 362 380 386 390 334 
			
			 Pork   
			 Home-fed production 810 813 836 791 801 888 931 831 725 610 
			 Imports 91 113 116 168 200 177 190 235 274 254 
			 Total new supply(22) 768 796 798 771 806 817 829 831 790 807 
			
			 Bacon and ham   
			 Home-fed production 189 216 233 245 241 239 236 233 209 197 
			 Imports 234 238 224 228 261 240 231 230 268 268 
			 Total new supply(22) 418 450 451 467 497 471 459 457 468 460 
			
			 Poultrymeat   
			 Home-fed production 1,217 1,277 1,356 1,415 1,476 1,520 1,545 1,525 1,513 1,564 
			 Imports 183 170 214 251 281 277 316 349 355 343 
			 Total new supply(22) 1,316 1,361 1,458 1,503 1,584 1,584 1,664 1,687 1,694 1,730 
			
			 Total   
			 Home-fed production 3,591 3,596 3,767 3,856 3,611 3,695 3,798 3,670 3,541 3,281 
			 Imports 840 859 864 1,006 1,067 1,062 1,031 1,135 1,228 1,234 
			 Total new supply(22) 3,891 3,839 3,905 3,977 4,062 4,135 4,175 4,214 4,235 4,221 
		
	
	(21) 2001 data are provisional.
	(22) Total new supply = home-fed production plus imports minus exports, and is the total amount of produce available for consumption.
	Source:
	DEFRA Statistics website, www.defra,gov.uk/esg

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement about (a) the areas included and (b) the exclusion of river water in the nitrate vulnerable zone scheme; how it will be policed; and how many extra forms will be generated by it.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 November 2002
	The Nitrates Directive requires the identification of polluted waters using the following criteria: (a) surface and groundwaters which contain or could contain, if preventative action is not taken, nitrate concentrations greater than 50 mg/l; (b) surface waters which are or could become, if preventative action is not taken, eutrophic.
	The Nitrates Directive then requires all known land draining into these waters, from which agriculture could contribute to the pollution, to be designated as Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs). Around 55 per cent. of England has been designated as NVZs on the basis that it drains into these waters.
	The Environment Agency (EA) are adopting a risk based approach to the enforcement of action programme measures which farmers located in the NVZs will be required to apply from 19 December 2002. The EA will prioritise farms that have the greatest potential for nitrate loss rather than visiting all farms, and will aim to work with farmers to help achieve compliance over a period of time.
	There is no requirement for farmers to fill in any new forms to comply with this legislation. Farmers in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones are expected to keep records of their application of manures and fertilisers. However, there is complete flexibility for farmers to do this in whatever way is most convenient for them, including using existing field records.

Non-food Uses of Crops

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress the Government Industry Forum on Non-Food Uses of Crops has made; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: Over the past year the forum has met six times and has been working on a number of studies of areas of potential development in the non-food crops sector. Examples include biopackaging, the use of natural fibres in composite materials, biosolvents and biolubricants. The forum has also considered generic issues which affect this sector. The forum published its first annual report in August 2002 which details its work and sets out its first series of recommendations to Government. I am placing copies of the report in the Libraries of both Houses.

Pigswill

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government has made to the EU about EU member states still using pigswill.

Elliot Morley: In negotiations on the EU Animal By-Products Regulation, the UK opposed any delay in introducing an EU-wide ban on swill feeding. However, to secure adoption of the regulation, the UK accepted that a transition period might be appropriate for two member states, Austria and Germany, providing suitable controls were in place during that period.

Public Paths

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government intend to bring forward statutory instruments to implement the part of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 that will reclassify roads used as public paths as restricted byways.

Alun Michael: Our aim is to consult on the content of the regulations needed to implement the restricted byway provisions no later than March 2003.

Public Paths

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many roads used as public paths have been reclassified as bridleways following review of their usage in accordance with section 54 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981;
	(2)  how many roads used as public paths have been reclassified as byways open to all traffic following review of their usage in accordance with section 54 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981;
	(3)  how many roads used as public paths have been reclassified as footpaths following review of their usage in accordance with section 54 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Alun Michael: The reclassification of RUPPS is the responsibility of Highway Authorities. The information sought is not available centrally.

River Parrett Catchment Project

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she has received a proposal from the Parrett catchment project to fund a sluice on the River Parrett;
	(2)  if she has received a proposal from the Parrett catchment project for a sluice on the Parrett.

Elliot Morley: A tidal sluice is one of the component options being considered by the Environment Agency (EA) as part of its Parrett Catchment Water Management Action Plan. The EA advises that the technical, environmental and economic evaluation of options is on-going and Defra has not yet received any formal proposal for the proposed sluice on the River Parrett.

School Milk Scheme

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has spent on the School Milk Scheme in (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03 to date.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 31 October 2002
	For the year 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 the expenditure on School Milk Subsidy was #8,010,877.57.
	For year 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 the expenditure increased to #8,632,079.31.
	For year 1 April 2002 to 29 October 2002 the expenditure was #5,849,398.72.

Water Courses

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Environment Agency regarding the cleaning of water courses; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 November 2002
	The Department has frequent discussions with the Environment Agency on reducing pollution from water courses.

Water Industry

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been carried out to establish that a customer threshold of 50 megalitres per annum in non-domestic water supply will enable a new entrant to make a viable financial return.

Elliot Morley: The Government published a consultation paper on July 31; XExtending Opportunities for Competition in the Water Industry in England and Wales". This proposed competition only in the non-household sector, with an eligibility threshold of a minimum of 50 megalitres (Ml) a year. The consultation period closed on 1 October and we are now considering responses.
	In preparing the proposals, assessment was made of the broad cost breakdown between the main elements of the supply chain, the likely scope for making savings on these, and the ranges of charges paid by users. Experience shows that the market will determine financial viability in a competitive environment.
	These issues will be taken into consideration as we balance the need to create opportunities for competition while continuing to secure the Government's wider objectives for the water industry, which include protecting public health, the environment, social and economic goals, and safeguarding services for household customers.

Wood for Good Campaign

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contribution the Wood for Good campaign is making towards the goal of ensuring that all timber into the UK is from legal and sustainable sources.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 28 October 2002
	The impact of the Wood for Good campaign has recently been evaluated by an independent consultancy. The study showed that the campaign is meeting its objectives. These objectives do not include ensuring that all imported timber is from legal and sustainable sources. However, the campaign has improved understanding of the environmental safeguards in wood supplied from the member countries. The demand for construction timber from the member countries has increased and is attributed in part to the campaign.

Woodland Grants Scheme

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was made available through the Woodland Grants Scheme in (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03; and how many applicants and how much was received by each recipient through the scheme in each of those years.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 31 October 2002
	The information is given in the table.
	
		
			  Total paid Number of schemes for which payments were made Number of payments made 
		
		
			 2000–01 16,513,784 7,639 8,898 
			 2001–02 15,796,737 7,063 8,065 
			 2002–03 (to date) 9,602,179 4,816 5,333 
		
	
	Some applicants have more than one scheme and some have received more than one payment in a year. A list of individual payments would involve thousands of entries, and has not therefore been produced.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

China

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the possible effects if Article 23 of the Basic Law in Hong Kong is enacted; and what representations he is making to the Government of the People's Republic of China.

Bill Rammell: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government have published outline proposals—but not yet draft legislation—on implementing Article 23. We have made clear to them that any legislation should be consistent with the principles of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong and the two UN human rights covenants.

International Terrorism

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the state of the international coalition against terrorism.

Mike O'Brien: The coalition against terrorism that we helped to build in the aftermath of 11 September remains resolute in its objective to eradicate terrorism as a force in international affairs. It has a long list of achievements to its credit: apart from Afghanistan, terrorists have been disrupted and arrested around the world, and there have been significant steps forward in international co-operation. But we have no illusions about how much more needs to be done.

Poland

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the UK's relations with Poland.

Denis MacShane: Relations between the UK and Poland are excellent.

Pakistan

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the outcome of the recent provincial and parliamentary elections.

Mike O'Brien: We welcome the holding of multi-party elections in Pakistan. They are an important milestone in Pakistan's on-going transition to democracy. The next crucial step is the transfer of power to the new National Assembly and establishing its role. We are committed to remaining engaged with Pakistan throughout the transition.

Israel

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Mike O'Brien: Lasting security can only be achieved through a negotiated settlement, not through force. We are committed to reviving final status negotiations by the end of the year. They must have explicitly as their aims an Israeli state free from terror and a viable Palestinian state based on UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 338 and 1397. We fully support the efforts of the Quartet to agree a roadmap which sets out a series of steps, leading to a final and comprehensive settlement by 2005. The priority now is to agree and implement the roadmap.

Israel

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what areas of (a) disagreement and (b) agreement he has with the US Administration about the Israel-Palestinian negotiations.

Mike O'Brien: In the House on 25 June my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary welcomed the approach to restarting the peace process set out in President Bush's speech of 24 June. We continue to work closely with the US to turn President Bush's vision of a final settlement within three years into a reality. What ever tactical disagreements might arise we are committed to working together to resolve them without delay.

Israel

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent initiatives he has undertaken to promote a peaceful dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Mike O'Brien: Lasting security can only be achieved through a negotiated settlement, not through force. We are committed to reviving final status negotiations by the end of the year. They must have explicitly as their aims an Israeli state free from terror and a viable Palestinian state based on UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 338 and 1397. We fully support the efforts of the Quartet to agree a roadmap which sets out a series of steps, leading to a final and comprehensive settlement by 2005. The priority now is to agree and implement the roadmap.

Israel

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, What action he is taking to secure a peace settlement in the Middle East on the basis of UN Resolutions 242 and 338.

Mike O'Brien: Lasting security can only be achieved through a negotiated settlement, not through force. We are committed to reviving final status negotiations by the end of the year. They must have explicitly as their aims an Israeli state free from terror and a viable Palestinian state based on UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 338 and 1397. We fully support the efforts of the Quartet to agree a roadmap which sets out a series of steps, leading to a final and comprehensive settlement by 2005. The priority now is to agree and implement the roadmap.

Nigeria

Julia Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to tackle the human rights abuses involved in Northern Nigeria states' use of Sharia law.

Bill Rammell: In September my noble Friend Baroness Amos, the Minister for Africa, raised with President Obasanjo HMG's concerns about the harsh sentences imposed under the Sharia penal codes. She emphasised the strength of feeling against them in the UK and reiterated HMG's opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances. The high commission, together with EU partners, regularly raises our concerns about the sentences with the appropriate authorities in Nigeria.

Zimbabwe

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with EU counterparts on the political situation in Zimbabwe.

Bill Rammell: We regularly discuss Zimbabwe with our EU partners, at official, ministerial and Heads of Government level. We have worked hard to achieve an EU consensus on policy towards Zimbabwe. This resulted in the EU's Common Position of 18 February, which imposed an EU wide travel ban and an assets freeze on key members of the Mugabe regime. The EU has extended the sanctions twice since February and they now apply to 79 people. We are in regular contact with EU partners to ensure that the sanctions are applied in accordance with the Common Position.
	Our dialogue with EU partners on Zimbabwe is on-going. The Minister for Africa, Baroness Amos, is travelling to Maputo in Mozambique this week, for talks between EU Foreign Ministers and Ministers representing the 14 SADC countries.

Finland

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on bilateral relations with Finland.

Denis MacShane: Bilateral relations are good. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister last met the Finnish Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen bilaterally in London on 21 October and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met his Finnish opposite Erkki Tuomioja on 27 September. We are close EU partners and trading with Finland.

Kashmir

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussion he has had with his counterparts in India and Pakistan about human rights abuses in Kashmir.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, has raised human rights abuses regularly with the Governments of India and Pakistan, including during his last visit to the region on 18–20 July. I also recently discussed a wide range of human rights issues, including Kashmir, during my visit to India on 17 October.

Mr. Peter Devlin

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken in the case of (a) Peter Devlin from Falmouth and (b) other divers involved in the Friesland salvage.

Mike O'Brien: When our consular staff in Madrid were notified on 21 June of the men's detention they contacted the court and were told that Mr. Devlin and the other divers had been released pending further investigations. Our consular staff in London have spoken to Mr. Devlin on five occasions about the matter and our Honorary Consul in Vigo spoke to the judge hearing the case who confirmed that some, but not all, of the men's equipment would be released. My noble Friend Baroness Amos wrote to my hon. Friend on 11 October explaining that this was a legal matter and that the company should be guided by its lawyer.

EU Enlargement

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on progress towards EU enlargement.

Denis MacShane: In line with the objective first set by the Prime Minister, the Brussels European Council agreed that ten candidate countries should be ready to join the EU in 2004 (Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia). It also confirmed the objective of completing negotiations with these countries this year. Brussels also confirmed that enlargement will not stop there. The UK welcomes the progress made by Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey.

Colombia

Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, What recent discussions he has had with the Colombian Government in connection with their efforts to restore peace and security.

Bill Rammell: My hon. Friend the Minister for Europe visited Colombia from 6–8 October. He met President Uribe and other Ministers, and representatives of British and Colombian NGOs and Colombian Trade Unions. He emphasised our willingness to help tackle Colombia's grave problems as well as the importance of further progress on human rights.

Iraq

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, What recent discussions his Department has had with the US Administration concerning Iraq.

Mike O'Brien: We regularly discuss Iraq with the United States and our other Security Council partners. It is essential that we maintain the pressure on Iraq to comply with its obligations under UN resolutions, including on disarmament, through a tough new United Nations resolution that will ensure the weapons inspectors can complete their task effectively.

Iraq

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, If he will make a statement on the UN weapons inspection programme for Iraq.

Mike O'Brien: The Executive Chairman of UNMOVIC and the Director-General of the IAEA are responsible for ensuring that a work programme for inspections in Iraq is drawn up. It is envisaged that the task of drawing up a work programme will take some 45 days after the arrival in Iraq of inspection teams. The work programme will then be put before the UN Security Council for approval.

Iran

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, What steps are being taken by the Government to encourage the Government of Iran to guarantee human rights for all its citizens.

Mike O'Brien: We raise human rights issues with the Iranian authorities at all levels. My right honourable Friend the Foreign Secretary did so while in Iran on 9 October. We supported the recent EU decision to establish a formal dialogue on human rights with Iran with the hope that this will bring about improvements in Iran's respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. We have made clear that we expect to see concrete results and will assess progress before taking a decision on whether to sponsor a resolution at the Commission on Human Rights.

Convention on the Future of Europe

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the Convention on the Future of Europe.

Denis MacShane: I refer my honourable Friend to the answer I gave earlier in the House today to my honourable Friend the Member for Rhonnda.

Arms Sales

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the breach of UN sanctions by European countries on the sale of arms.

Bill Rammell: The Government works to ensure the rigorous enforcement of United Nations (UN) Sanctions and takes all breaches very seriously. When the Government receives information regarding an alleged breach by a third country we raise the issue with the country concerned. We also where appropriate ensure that the breach is acted on by the relevant UN Sanctions Committee.

Afghanistan

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans are in place to provide continuing security to Afghanistan through the International Security Assistance Force.

Mike O'Brien: The United Nations Security Council Resolution authorising the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul and its immediate environs will expire on 20 December. There is, however, a clear need for ISAF to remain in Kabul for the foreseeable future. We are in discussion with our UN partners about an extension beyond that date. The provisional offer made by Germany and the Netherlands on 24 September to replace Turkey as lead nation of ISAF is very welcome and is an important sign of the international community's continued commitment to sustaining ISAF for as long as it is required.

Bali

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the remains of British citizens killed in the Bali bombing to be returned to relatives in the United Kingdom.

Mike O'Brien: The remains of 14 victims of the Bali bombing have been repatriated.
	We are still awaiting the positive identification of three British victims. This is expected to be completed within the next few weeks.
	Four British Citizens are still missing.

Bali

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the British Government are giving to the Indonesian and Australian authorities who are engaged in the identification process of those murdered in the Bali bombing.

Mike O'Brien: We immediately sent a team of police officers led by the anti-terrorism branch to Bali including investigators, family liaison officers and officers skilled in identification processes. A UK coroner and pathologist travelled to Bali to ensure the Indonesian/Australian identification and repatriation processes were in line with ours. Police and consular staff are present throughout the day in the local mortuary. British police also arranged for relatives' DNA samples both in the UK and overseas to be taken and transferred to Australia for profiling.

Beryllium

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's Answer of 22nd October, Official Report, column 247W, on beryllium, what end-use monitoring has been undertaken in relation to the export of beryllium to Iran.

Mike O'Brien: As stated by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Trade and Industry (Mr Nigel Griffiths) on 28 October 2002, Offical Report, Columns 531–532W, the Government attaches great importance to ensuring that UK exports are not misused, diverted or re-exported to undesirable end-uses. A risk assessment was made at the licensing stage of this export, including careful examination of information about the proposed end-use and end-user of the goods. We continue to believe that the export of less than half an ounce of beryllium to the University of Science and Technology in Tehran is not of concern with respect to use in weapons of mass destruction and that the end-use stated in the original export licence application was legitimate. In these circumstances we have considered end-use monitoring not to be necessary for this export.

Bus Lanes (Government Cars)

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a Government car service vehicle in which he was a passenger last travelled outside the exempted hours on bus lanes; and what exemption there is to rules about passenger cars using bus lanes in central London for ministerial cars.

Jack Straw: The official vehicles in which I travel are not operated by the Government car service. They are adapted for police use, and are driven by police officers who are subject to the same provisions of the law as other officers in similar circumstances.

Cayman Islands

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what developments there have been in the constitutional review process in the Cayman Islands.

Mike O'Brien: We have now completed our review of the report of the Constitutional Review Commissioners and associated papers, forwarded by the Governor of the Cayman Islands in August. We have invited representatives of both Government and Opposition parties to an informal meeting in London on 9–11 December to discuss how to take the various proposals forward. I have made arrangements for the relevant reports to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Eritrea

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he will make to the Eritrean authorities concerning persecution of evangelical Christians in that country.

Bill Rammell: In May this year, the Ministry of Information ordered all minority religious groups to register or cease all activities. The outcome of the registration process is not yet clear.
	Our Ambassador in Asmara, along with other EU Missions, raised the issue of human rights at every opportunity. He discussed the issue of registration of minority churches with the relevant Minister in June.
	We will continue to raise breaches of fundamental human rights bilaterally and with EU Partners.

Guatemala

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the attacks carried out against human rights workers in Guatemala;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Guatemala;
	(3)  what representations he has made to the Government of Guatemala regarding implementation of the commitments it made to the Grupo Consultivo in February.

Bill Rammell: The human rights situation in Guatemala has improved since the end of the civil war in 1996. But it remains unsatisfactory. MINUGUA (UN Verification Mission to Guatemala) has expressed deep concern at the increase in intimidation against human rights activists, politicians, members of the judiciary and media involved in efforts to confront impunity. The UK shares MINUGUA's concerns and will continue to work with the EU to urge the Government of Guatemala to take all necessary measures to protect these groups and bring human rights abusers to justice quickly.
	When my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane) visited Guatemala in May this year he saw for himself the difficulties facing human rights defenders. In his discussions with the Government, he emphasised the importance HMG attaches to human rights.
	HMG urges the Government of Guatemala to implement all unfulfilled commitments under the Peace Accords, particularly those relating to human rights. The UK, with the EU, will continue to monitor the human rights' situation in Guatemala, and the Government's efforts to honour their commitments.
	International donors (including the UK) will review the Guatemalan Government's progress at the follow-up meeting of the Consultative Group (The XGroup Consultivo")in spring 2003. This will not be a formality.

Lisbon Council

John McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on the economic objectives agreed at the Lisbon Council.

Denis MacShane: There has been progress in the sense of 5 million new jobs in the EU since 2000, and cheaper telephone calls thanks to telecom liberalisation but the EU needs to go further in order to advance its ambition of being the world's most dynamic and job creating economy by 2010.

Ministerial Meetings (Namibia)

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the President of Namibia; whether he discussed the present land situation in Zimbabwe; what other matters were discussed; what plans he has to assess the need for a legal programme of land resettlement in Namibia; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: holding reply of 4 November
	. We support the need for land reform in Namibia, but any programme must be transparent and within the rule of law. My noble Friend the Minister for Africa met the Namibian Foreign Minister on 17 September. She raised our concerns about land reform in both Namibia and Zimbabwe. On the same day, President Nujoma addressed the Namibian Agricultural Union assuring them that land reform would proceed within the rule of law and would be transparent.

PLO (Intifada)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on negotiations with Chairman Arafat of the PLO regarding the intifada.

Mike O'Brien: International efforts are currently focussed on ending violence in Israel and the Occupied Territories, including the current intifada, by restarting a process of negotiation which will lead to a final settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. We continue to give those efforts our full support.

Poppy Farming

George Mudie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the change in levels of poppy farming since the overthrow of the Taliban regime.

Mike O'Brien: The UK contributes funds to the opium poppy survey in Afghanistan conducted by the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention. It reported on 25 October that poppy cultivation in 2002 was 74,000 hectares. This is more than in 2001, but significantly less than the record level in 1999 when 91,583 hectares were cultivated.

Prisoners (Peru)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he will make to the Peruvian Government concerning (a) the imprisonment of Olga Gonzalez Zevallos, Jorge Julian Godoy and Carlos Yalle Laura and (b) the incarceration of other prisoners who have been recommended for release by the Peruvian Government's Pardoning Commission.

Bill Rammell: Our Embassy in Lima last raised these cases with the Peruvian Ministry of Justice on 31 October. The Ministry said that the cases are being reviewed but admit delays are occurring in the process due to lack of resources.

Private Sector Secondments

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what committee within his Department overseas the placement and monitoring of secondments from outside organisations to his Department.

Bill Rammell: British Trade International—the joint DTI/FCO body responsible for trade development and promotion of inward investment—overseas the placement and monitoring of secondments from outside organisations to Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In doing so BTI respects the Cabinet Office guidelines on interchange and the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code.

Radio Voice of Hope

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department is contributing towards the South Sudanese radio station Radio Voice of Hope.

Bill Rammell: HMG has not contributed to Radio Voice of Hope.

Somalia

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the situation in Somalia.

Bill Rammell: I join the international community in welcoming the ceasefire deal signed on 27 October by Somali groups taking part in the peace and reconciliation conference at Eldoret. I hope it will pave the way for a return to peace and stability in Somalia.

Sudan

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the (a) situation and (b) peace negotiations in Sudan.

Bill Rammell: The Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army resumed the peace talks on 14 October and have agreed a cessation of hostilities and unrestricted humanitarian access for the duration of the talks. We welcome these developments and shall continue to provide our full support as they work for a just and lasting peace.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the status of Operation Lifeline Sudan; and whether flights are reaching those people in need of food and other necessities.

Bill Rammell: Operation Lifeline Sudan remains the principal mechanism by which humanitarian assistance is provided to war-affected areas in Sudan. The UN and the Humanitarian Affairs Commission and the Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Authority met in Nairobi on 25 October, they discussed the implementation of unrestricted humanitarian access agreed in the Memorandum of Understanding on the Cessation of Hostilities on 17 October. We warmly welcome these developments.
	We continue to urge all parties to give all possible help to the UN and non governmental organisations (NGOs) to ensure speedy delivery of humanitarian assistance. Our Ambassador in Khartoum raised the general issue of humanitarian access with the Sudanese Minister of International Co-operation on 24 October.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on funding arrangements through the UNHCR for refugees in the Sudan.

Bill Rammell: This year the UK is providing a core contribution of #14 million to UNHCR and in each of the following years (#56 million over four years). Sudan is one of UNHCR'spriorities.

Sudan-Eritrea Relations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between Sudan and Eritrea.

Bill Rammell: Relations between Sudan and Eritrea were formally restored in January 2000. Recent tension caused by fighting in eastern Sudan has affected relations between the two countries. But this has eased since the signing on 17 October of a Memorandum of Understanding on a cessation of hostilities between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army.

Taiwan

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Taiwan.

Bill Rammell: HMG does not recognise Taiwan as an independent state. We acknowledge the position of the Chinese Government that Taiwan is a province of the People's Republic of China. Taiwan is one of the world's largest economies and a key economic partner for the UK. Although we do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, we are keen to develop further economic, financial, cultural, educational, science and technology and other exchanges where we have mutual interests. The British Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei actively promotes these exchanges and represents British interests in Taiwan in the absence of formal relations.

Terrorism

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, If he will make a statement about the state of the international coalition against terrorism.

Mike O'Brien: The coalition against terrorism that we helped to build in the aftermath of 11 September remains resolute in its objective to eradicate terrorism as a force in international affairs. It has a long list of achievements to its credit: apart from Afghanistan, terrorists have been disrupted and arrested around the world, and there have been significant steps forward in international cooperation. But we have no illusions about how much more needs to be done.

Trade Relations

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action his Department is taking to promote trade relations between India and the United Kingdom.

Bill Rammell: Trade Partners UK is a joint FCO and DTI organisation, established to enhance the competitiveness of companies in the UK through overseas sales and investments. It has a comprehensive business plan to help UK firms expand their activity in the Indian Market. This includes a wide range of activities in business sectors where there are commercial opportunities.
	The New Delhi Declaration signed by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and the Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in January this year, includes a section highlighting the importance of our bilaterial trade and investment relationship.

Uzbekistan

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's relations with Uzbekistan with particular reference to human rights and religious freedom.

Mike O'Brien: The UK's relationship with Uzbekistan is developing well. Since 1992 we have seen Embassies established both in Uzbekistan and the UK. Both are extremely active and are doing much to bring the relationship forward. Education and drugs co-operation are key elements of that relationship.
	Much of the UK's work in Uzbekistan is devoted to pressing for improvements in the human rights situation. Bilaterally, and through the EU and the OSCE, we have urged Uzbekistan to take greater steps towards democratisation and respect for human rights. We recognise that there have been some small steps to address the human rights situation, including an invitation to the UN Special Rapporteur for Torture. But Uzbekistan needs to do much more. In particular, we would like to see reform of the criminal justice system, and wider recognition of independent human rights groups, religious groups and political parties. We stand ready to help Uzbekistan make these improvements, in line with its international obligations and commitments.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking, within the United Nations, to secure the right of unrestricted access of weapons inspectors to identify whether Russia has been acquiring undeclared weapons of mass destruction.

Mike O'Brien: Russia is a State Party to all the major arms control treaties governing weapons of mass destruction—the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Russia already complies with the inspection requirements imposed by its treaty obligations.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between the United Kingdom Government and the Government of Zimbabwe.

Bill Rammell: Relations between the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe are poorer than at any time since Zimbabwe's independence in 1980. The ZANU (PF) regime has undermined the democratic principles on which an independent Zimbabwe was founded. It has manipulated the democratic process to retain power, as clearly seen during the presidential election in March and in elections since. It has used violence, intimidation and the withholding of food aid to cow the opposition and gain political advantage. It has seriously undermined the independence of the judiciary and subverted the rule of law. It has systematically attacked Zimbabwe's free and independent media. Its record on human rights abuses is appalling. Its economic and land policies are major contributors to the current humanitarian crisis. Relations between the UK and Zimbabwe will not improve until a government in Harare makes a genuine attempt to address these concerns.

HEALTH

Cancer

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to include figures for patients awaiting diagnostic tests in the national cancer waiting lists currently published by the NHS.

Hazel Blears: The NHS Cancer Plan set out waiting time targets for cancer. These targets aim to reduce the amount of time patients have to wait from urgent referral to beginning treatment, which will include the diagnostic phase, and from diagnosis of cancer to first treatment. We have no plans to include waiting times for individual diagnostic tests in cancer waiting times monitoring.

Cancer

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has received concerning the number of patients that have been denied treatment with specific cancer drugs, including Herceptin, owing to delays in obtaining NICE guidance.

Hazel Blears: Prior to publication of recommendations by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), the Department received numerous representations about the availability of Glivec for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia; Herceptin for the treatment of breast cancer and MabThera for the treatment of follicular lymphoma.
	The appraisal process, from referral to completion, has been designed to allow the full participation of patients, clinicians, companies and stakeholders. NICE is fully aware of the need to ensure that the process is as streamlined as possible, without losing any of the important safeguards it contains, in order to publish guidance soon after the treatments are launched.
	It is not acceptable for funding authorities to refuse to fund a newly licensed treatment just because it is awaiting appraisal by NICE. Decisions on funding should be based on local consideration of the available evidence when NICE appraisals are awaited.

Acute Beds

Gerry Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute beds there were in each of the last five years; and how many he expects there to be in the next 12 months.

John Hutton: The average daily number of beds in acute wards in England since 1996 is:
	
		
			 Year Acute beds  
		
		
			 1996–1997 108,869 
			 1997–1998 107,807 
			 1998–1999 107,729 
			 1999–2000 107,218 
			 2000–2001 107,956 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH03
	The NHS Plan made a commitment to increase the number of beds in general & acute wards by 2,100 by 2004.

BCG Vaccination

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the suspension of BCG vaccination programmes in schools.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 4 November 2002
	There have been concerns over the school BCG programme following Evans Vaccines Ltd. withdrawing all batches of the BCG vaccine as a precautionary measure. However, the Danish company Statens Serum Institut (SSI) were granted a trading licence by the Medicines Control Agency for its BCG vaccine on 9 September this year.
	Stocks of SSI's BCG vaccine are currently being packaged for the UK market and we hope to receive this in mid-November. Once BCG supplies are available, the priority will be to vaccinate those at highest risk of tuberculosis, principally new born babies whose parents are from higher risk communities or who live in high risk areas. The schools programme will then follow on afterwards.

Biological Drugs

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he intends to provide to patients regarding the safe (a) transport, (b) storage and (c) use of biological drugs.

Hazel Blears: information regarding the transport, storage and use of biological drugs is specifically provided on the product label and, in more detail, in the patient information leaflet (PIL). The PIL is supplied with the packaged product. Information and advice on transport, storage and handling of each medicinal product is based upon the scientific data, including the stability of the drug in the final packaging, which is evaluated as part of the marketing authorisation application.

Biotechnology

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies he has funded this year to consider the impact of patenting biotechnology inventions on health care provision; for what purpose such studies were funded; and when they will be published.

Hazel Blears: The Department has commissioned an independent study into the impact and management of intellectual property rights within the health care sector. This fulfils the commitment made in the Government's response to the report on human genetic databases from the Select Committee on Science and Technology in the other place. The study is proceeding in two stages. The first stage is complete and a report entitled XIdentification of Intellectual Property Rights Relating to Healthcare" was published in September 2002. A conference to discuss the outputs of the second stage of the study and to build a consensus on possible actions is being planned for 12 February 2003.

Blood Products

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to submit all blood and blood derivative products available in the United Kingdom to the Medicines Control Agency;
	(2)  what plans he has for all plasma products to be evaluated by NICE.

Hazel Blears: There are no plans to submit blood and blood components to the Medicines Control Agency for licensing. We do not believe that doing so would confer any additional public health benefit. The Medicines Control Agency already ensures that the United Kingdom blood services meet European good manufacturing practice standards. In addition, the new European Blood Directive will, when adopted, require the accreditation of all blood establishments to ensure common standards of safety and quality in blood and blood components across all Members States. We have no plans to refer the use of all plasma products to NICE for evaluation. Safety issues relating to plasma products fall within the remit of the United Kingdom expert advisory committee on the microbiological safety of blood and tissues for transplantation (MSBT). MSBT seeks specialist advice where necessary or includes the relevant specialists among its members.

Blood Products

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the safety of fresh frozen plasma and methylene blue treated plasma; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Government's advisory committee on the microbiological safety of blood and tissues for transplantation (MSBT) is continuing to consider the relative efficacy and risks of the different types of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) available. United Kingdom FFP is already a very safe product. To minimise the risk from viruses, it is made only from previously tested blood donors. The current high levels of safety are achieved by screening out potential high risk donors and then further testing every unit of donated blood for the presence of infections such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. FFP produced by the national blood service (NBS), using UK donors, has also been leucodepleted to remove white cells, which evidence suggests may carry the greatest risk of transmitting vOD. Over 300,000 units of FFP are issued annually and it is only given in life-threatening situations to prevent or stop haemorrhage associated with abnormal blood clotting. MSBT has recommended importing single unit FFP from the United States. On 15 August 2002 the Government announced that imported FFP will be used for new-born babies and young children born after 1 January 1996, as an added precaution against the theoretical risk of vCJD transmission. On the advice of MSBT, US sourced FFP will be virally inactivated using methylene blue (MB) treatment. MB has been administered in medical practice since 1900, and in much larger doses (many thousand-fold) than the NBS will be using. NBS will be removing more than 90 per cent, of MB before the FFP is issued to National Health Service hospitals. MB is a registered medical device under the Medical Devices Directive and has a European safety (CE) marking.

Cardiac Surgical Services

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further cardiac surgical services are planned in West London; and when they will be operational.

John Hutton: The parallel developments at Hammersmith Hospital and the Paddington Basin will see the creation of two specialist centres for heart surgery in north west London in modern facilities to replace the existing centres. The two centres will provide benefits of greater service concentration, including integration with a wider range of services, and a strengthened teaching and research capacity. Whilst the developments are underway investment is being made to improve existing services. This includes creating more surgical capacity where possible and replacing worn out equipment, including operating theatres and catheter laboratories to ensure that services continue to improve in line with patient and Government expectations.

Child Protection

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many child protection officers who had been in post for more than one year were active in each London borough and metropolitan borough in the last year;
	(2)  how many child protection officers were active in each London borough and metropolitan borough in each of the past five years.

Jacqui Smith: Data on the number of staff working in child protection are not available centrally.

Child Protection

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role the Department of Health plays in ensuring adequate child protection among vulnerable families living in Army garrisons.

Jacqui Smith: Local authorities have the statutory responsibility for the protection of the children of service families, including those living in army garrisons. All three armed services also provide professional welfare support, including Xspecial to type" social work services and, in some cases, medical services to augment those provided by local authorities. When UK service families are based overseas, the responsibility for the protection of their children is vested with the Ministry of Defence.
	The Department of Health, the Home Office and the Department for Education and Employment, in jointly revising the XWorking Together to Safeguard Children" child protection guidance, were careful to remember the particular needs of children living in army garrisons. Appendix 2 of this guidance provides points of contact for armed forces arrangements for child protection.

Clinical Negligence

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to continue the pilot project for dealing with small clinical negligence claims; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The Chief Medical Officer has been reviewing arrangements for handling clinical negligence claims. Plans to implement any future measures for handling clinical negligence claims will be developed later this year in the light of Ministers consideration of the Chief Medical Officer's recommendations for reform.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 25 September from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms J. Hamnett.

Alan Milburn: A reply was sent to my right hon. Friend on 4 November.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to fund research into finding a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

John Hutton: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Cardiff West (Kevin Brennan) on 30 October.

District Nurses

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many initial contacts per district nurse there were in each of the past five years.

John Hutton: District nurses are registered nurses who have undertaken further training as specialist community practitioners (district nursing). Most district nurses lead teams of staff nurses and health care assistants who will not have been included in the figures requested.
	The number of initial contacts per whole time equivalent district nurse in the past five years is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Year Number of initial contacts  per district nurse (w.t.e.) 
		
		
			 1997–98 5.1 
			 1998–99 4.9 
			 1999–2000 5.1 
			 2000–01 5.4 
			 2001–02 5.4 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health, Statistics Division Form KC56 and non-medical workforce census

Domiciliary Oxygen Service

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the review of the domiciliary oxygen service to be concluded.

Hazel Blears: The review is at an advanced stage, but I cannot say at present when it will be completed.

Finnish Nurses

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Finnish nurses are employed by the NHS.

John Hutton: Information on the numbers of Finnish nurses employed in the National Health Service is not collected centrally.
	There is currently no government to government arrangement with Finland regarding the recruitment of Finnish nurses.

Focus Group Research

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what use he and his Department has made of focus group research since June 2001; if he will identify for each research project the topics covered, the person or organisation carrying out the research, and the total cost; and if he will publish the research on his Department's website.

Hazel Blears: A table listing focus groups and their purpose carried out by my Department since June 2001 has been placed in the Library. The Department's expenditure on these can only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Health Allocation (Review)

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) guidelines and (b) criteria are for the review of health allocation to local health trusts.

John Hutton: The existing formula used to allocate National Health Service resources has been reviewed by the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA). ACRA's terms of reference are to advise the Secretary of State for Health on the distribution of resources across primary and secondary care. Guidelines for the review are to put in place new mechanisms to distribute NHS cash more fairly and that the healthcare needs of populations, including the impact of deprivation, will be the driving force in determining where the cash goes. The main criterion of the review has been to contribute to the reduction in avoidable health inequalities.

Health Inequalities

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of inequalities in access to health care services in England and their relationship with income inequality; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 29 October 2002
	The NHS Plan emphasised the importance of reducing inequalities in access to national health service service as part of an overall effort to improve health and reduce inequality.
	Following the assessment of the Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health, it recognised that the worst health problems will not be tackled without dealing with their fundamental causes, including poverty and economic and social disadvantage.
	That is why we introduced national health inequalities targets in 2001:
	starting with children under one year, by 2010 to reduce by at least 10 per cent., the gap in mortality between Xroutine and manual" groups and the population as a whole.
	starting with local authorities, by 2010 to reduce by at least 10 per cent., the gap between the fifth of areas with the lowest life expectancy at birth and the population as a whole.
	and gave priority to improving access of care to all services and reducing health inequalities in XImprovement, Expansion and Reform: The Next Three Years", the priorities and planning framework for 2003–06 published on 2 October.

Health Service Finance

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account he will take of rurality in his revised allocation formula for funding primary care trusts.

John Hutton: The existing formula used to allocate national health service resources has been reviewed by the advisory committee on resource allocation (ACRA). We are currently considering ACRA's recommendations. Later this autumn when we announce the revenue allocations for the next three years we will explain changes to the formula.

Imported Poultry

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average time taken to test a consignment of imported poultry meat for the presence of nitrofurans has been in the last year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: Information provided by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland (DARDNI), who carry out the testing of poultrymeat from Thailand for nitrofurans, shows the average turnaround time, from 22 May when the first results were reported to 25 October 2002, to be eight days from receipt of sample. 90 per cent. of samples within this time period were analysed within the agreed 10 day turnaround time.
	There are no figures available for the turnaround time for the testing for nitrofurans in Brazilian poultrymeat as testing has only recently commenced.

Infected Blood Transfusion

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's estimate is of the number of hepatitis C sufferers who contracted the virus from NHS blood transfusions.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 21 October 2002
	A lookback programme conducted by the national blood service from 1995 identified 669 people who contracted the hepatitis C virus from blood transfusions before screening for thevirus was introduced in September 1991. However, it has been impossible to trace the majority of those likely to have been infected. Work has been undertaken to estimate the numbers involved and we expect the results to be published later this year.

Jams Regulations

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the maximum penalties are for breaches of the Jams Regulations; and what the maximum penalties he intends for breaches of the EC Jams Directive (2001/113/EC).

Hazel Blears: The maximum penalties for an offence under the Jams and Similar Products Regulations 1981 are: on summary conviction, a fine not exceeding 5,000; on conviction or indictment, a unlimited fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both.
	New domestic regulations are being prepared to implement Directive 2001/113. It is intended, subject to the outcome of a full public consultation, that the maximum penalty for an offence under the forthcoming Regulations will be a fine not exceeding #5,000. This is in line with the penalties provided by comparable compositional legislation for other foodstuffs.

Latex-free Equipment

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the guidelines to the NHS regarding the provision of, and access to, latex-free material and equipment.

John Hutton: Guidance issued to the national health service relating to latex and latex-free equipment is based on the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and is intended to remind NHS managers of their duty to comply with that legislation in assessing risks to their staff.
	A wide range of latex-free equipment is now being manufactured and many companies are now moving away from using latex in their products altogether. There are no cost implications associated with using latex-free equipment, and the latest data from NHS Logistics suggest that NHS employers are increasingly moving to latex-free equipment.

MRSA

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people contacted MRSA and in which hospitals in 2001.

Hazel Blears: These figures are not available as information on Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infections, apart from MRSA blood stream infections, is not collated centrally. Mandatory reporting of MRSA blood stream infections was introduced for all acute national health service trusts on 1 April 2001 and data are routinely published. Results by individual trust for the first year of this scheme (April 2001 to March 2002) were published in the Communicable Disease Report Weekly on 20 June 2002 and are available on the Public Health Laboratory Service website www.phls.co.uk/publications/cdr/PDFfiles/2002/cdr2502.pdf.

National Alcohol Reduction Strategy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many copies of the National Alcohol Reduction Strategy Consultation Paper have been sent out to user groups in the voluntary and commercial sectors.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 29 October 2002
	The Government launched the National Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy Consultation Document on 15 October 2002, and the consultation period will run until 15 January 2003. Copies of the consultation document have been placed on the Department's website www.doh.gov.uk/alcohol/alcoholstrategy.htm and on the strategy unit website www.strategy.gov.uk/2002/alcohol/consultationdocument.shtml.
	The Government are keen to receive a wide range of responses from all stakeholders including user groups. The document has been circulated either in hard copy or electronically to a wide range of interested groups, including representatives of the alcohol counselling and prevention services (ACAPS), the alcohol service users national alliance (ASUNA) and the London drug and alcohol network (LDAN).

NHS Finance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost per patient of alcohol and drug rehabilitation on the NHS was in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: There are around 3,100 bedspaces within the drug and alcohol residential rehabilitation sector. The cost per week, per patient, varies from around #250 for a placement within hostel accommodation to around #1000 for a placement within a medical/clinical facility. There is no information collected at present on community rehabilitation programmes, although work is being developed on this by the national treatment agency.

NHS Information Technology

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on (a) the personal responsibilities of the Director General of NHS Information Technology, (b) his responsibility for the NHS Information Authority and (c) his role in directing the implementation of NHS information technology at regional level.

Hazel Blears: Richard Granger has been appointed as Director General of Information Technology in the national health service and is responsible for delivering the national programme for IT. This focuses on the key developments that will make a significant difference to improving the patient experience and the delivery of care and services. There are four key deliverables: electronic appointment booking, an electronic care records service, an electronic prescribing service and an underpinning IT infrastructure with sufficient connectivity and broadband capacity to support the critical national applications and local systems.
	Gwyn Thomas is the Chief Executive of the NHS Information Authority (NHSIA), which is a special health authority. Richard Granger will be working closely with the NHSIA, the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency and the Information Policy Unit in the Department of Health. Working together and maintaining strong working relationships will be important for all parties.
	In the new NHS planning system, strategic health authorities (StHAs) are responsible for producing local delivery plans that will link sound local investment plans on IT into the national arrangements and framework. Richard Granger will be working through StHAs to ensure that for IT, the focus is on the key deliverables for the national IT programme. He will work with the chief executives and chief information officers at each StHA to ensure that progress is maintained against the critical path for implementation. The chief information officers will report to both their own chief executives and to Richard Granger.

NHS Organisations (Running Costs)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total running costs of NHS organisations serving (a) Portsmouth South and (b) Hampshire were in 1997; what the totals are now; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The total expenditure of the local provider organisations serving the former Portsmouth and South East Hampshire health authority area in 1997–98 was #242.9 million. This included Portsmouth Hospitals National Health Service Trust and Portsmouth Healthcare NHS Trust. The total forecast out-turn expenditure in 2002–03 for Portsmouth Hospitals Trust and the provider functions of the East Hampshire, Fareham and Gosport and Portsmouth City Primary Care Trusts is #383.6 million. It is not possible to provide information for the Portsmouth South constituency.
	The total expenditure by health authorities in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in 1997–98 was #971.7 million and the forecast outturn expenditure in 2002–03 for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority and the 10 constituent primary care trusts which have commissioning functions is #1,501.4 million.
	In both cases it is difficult to make direct comparisons between 1997–98 expenditure and 2002–03 forecast out-turn expenditure because of the various organisational changes which have taken place in the intervening years.

NHS Services (Hampshire)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed to carry out administration for NHS services for residents of (a) Portsmouth South and (b) Hampshire in 1997; how many are employed; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Information is not collected centrally by constituency. Information by health authority is shown in the table.
	
		NHS hospital and community health service (HCHS): administration staff(23) within specific health authority areas as at 30 September
		
			  Wholetime equivalents Headcount  
			 Code/health authority 1997 2001 1997 2001 
		
		
			 All administration staff 4,490 5,370 5,540 6,600 
			 QD1 North and Mid Hants 1,130 1,340 1,420 1,650 
			 QD3 Southampton and SW Hants 1,570 1,910 1,870 2,290 
			 QD4 Isle of Wight 370 (25)— 450 (25)— 
			 QD2 Portsmouth and SE Hants 1,420 (25) — 1,800 (25)— 
			 QEV Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and SE Hants(24) (25)— 2,120 (25)— 2,660 
		
	
	(23) Administration staff comprises of senior managers, managers, clerical and administrative staff.
	(24) Isle of Wight HA and Portsmouth and South East Hampshire HA merged in 2001 to become Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire HA.
	(25) Not applicable.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of the component parts.
	3. 2001 is the most recent year for which information is available.
	Source:
	Department of Health non-medical workforce census

NHS Trusts

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mergers between NHS acute services trusts there have been in each year since trusts were formed.

John Hutton: A list of all national health service trusts that have been involved in major reconfigurations since 1991–92 have been placed in the Library. Most of these have merged by dissolution and establishment of new NHS trusts, but there are also absorption mergers and parts of NHS trusts involved in the formation of new NHS trusts and primary care trusts.

NHS Work Force Statistics

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the next NHS workforce statistics.

David Lammy: holding answer 29 October 2002
	Figures for 30 September 2002 are due to be published in February 2003, in line with timing for previous years.

NICE

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list members of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence who are ethicists.

Hazel Blears: The constitution of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's board reflects its primary role of providing clear guidance on clinical and cost effectiveness to the national health service. It does not include any members appointed specifically because of their formal training in ethics.

Number of Doctors and Nurses

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of doctors per head of population in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) each other European Union country; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of (a) doctors and (b) nurses per 1,000 head of population in England; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 29 October 2002
	The information requested is shown in the tables.
	The comparative information about the number of doctors in the United Kingdom and the European Union is published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the latest figures are shown in the table. However, these figures need to be interpreted with caution because different countries calculate the figures in different ways. If comparing United Kingdom data with other countries, we consistently appear near the bottom for doctors per 1,000 head of population, but this is mainly because we count only national health service doctors, whereas most other countries figures include all registered doctors, therefore counting, for example, private sector doctors and doctors who are not actually working.
	
		Health employment: practising physicians density per 1,000 population
		
			 Countries 2000 
		
		
			 Austria 3.1 
			 Belgium 3.9 
			 Denmark n/a 
			 Finland 3.1 
			 France n/a 
			 Germany 3.6 
			 Greece n/a 
			 Ireland n/a 
			 Italy 6 
			 Luxembourg 3.1 
			 Netherlands 3.2 
			 Portugal n/a 
			 Spain 3.3 
			 Sweden n/a 
			 United Kingdom 1.8 
		
	
	
		All doctors and qualified nursing, midwifery, health visiting staff and practice nurses per 1,000 population, England, at 30 September 2001
		
			  Numbers per 1,000 population 
		
		
			 All doctors 2.0 
			 of which:  
			 General practitioners(26) 0.6 
			 HCHS medical and dental staff(27) 1.4 
			   
			 All qualified nursing(28) 7.1 
			 of which:  
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 6.7 
			 Practice nurses 0.4 
		
	
	(26) General medical practitioners includes unrestricted principals, PMS salaried GP's, PMS contracted GP's restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (para 52 SFA), PMS and others and GP retainers.
	(27) Excludes medical hospital practitioners and medical clinical assistants, most of whom are also general practitioners working part-time in hospitals.
	(28) Figures exclude learners and agency staff.
	Source:
	Department of Health Medical and Dental Work Force Census.Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.Department of Health Non-medical Work Force Census.Office for National Statistics (ONS).
	Note:
	Population figures are rounded to one decimal point.

Pilot Schemes

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason the Health Authorities Preparation of Proposals for Pilot Schemes (Personal Medical Services) (Amendment) Directions 2002 were laid before the House on 21 October.

John Hutton: The Health Authorities Preparation of Proposals for Pilot Schemes (Personal Medical Services) (Amendment) Directions 2002 were not laid before the House on 21 October.

Psychiatrists

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many CAMHS psychiatrists were employed in each strategic health authority in each of the past five years.

John Hutton: The number of child and adolescent psychiatrists is shown in the following table. The number of consultants in the specialty has increased by 9 per cent., between September 1997 and March 2002.
	
		Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): Medical and dental staff within Child and Adolescent Psychiatry by Strategic Health Authority(29)—England(30)
		
			   Numbers (headcount)  
			  1998 1999  
			  All staff Consultant All staff Consultant 
		
		
			 England 770 460 800 490 
			  
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 40 30 40 30 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 20 10 20 10 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country 50 20 40 20 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 40 30 40 30 
			 Country Durham and Tees Valley 10 10 20 10 
			 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire 10 10 10 10 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 20 10 20 10 
			 Dorset and Somerset 10 10 10 10 
			 Essex 20 10 20 10 
			 Greater Manchester 60 30 50 30 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 30 20 30 20 
			 Kent and Medway 10 10 20 10 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 30 20 30 20 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 40 20 50 30 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 10 10 10 10 
			 North Central London 50 30 50 30 
			 North East London 30 20 30 20 
			 North West London 50 30 40 30 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 20 20 30 20 
			 South East London 40 20 40 30 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 20 10 20 10 
			 South East London 40 20 40 30 
			 LondonSouth West London 20 10 30 10 
			 South West Peninsula 10 10 10 10 
			 South Yorkshire 20 10 10 10 
			 Surrey and Sussex 30 20 30 20 
			 Thames Valley 50 20 50 20 
			 Trent 30 20 40 20 
			 West Yorkshire 30 20 30 10 
		
	
	
		
			  2000 2001 March 2002(31)  
			  All staff Consultant All staff Consultant All staff Consultant 
		
		
			 England 830 480 820 490 — 480 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 40 20 40 20 — 20 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 20 10 20 10 — 10 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country 40 20 40 20 — 20 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 40 30 40 20 — 20 
			 Country Durham and Tees Valley 20 10 20 20 — 20 
			 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire 10 10 10 10 — 10 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 20 10 20 10 — 10 
			 Dorset and Somerset 10 10 20 10 — 10 
			 Essex 10 10 10 10 — * 
			 Greater Manchester 50 20 50 20 — 20 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 40 20 60 30 — 20 
			 Kent and Medway 20 10 10 10 — 10 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 20 10 20 10 — 10 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 50 30 60 30 — 30 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 10 10 10 10 — 10 
			 North Central London 40 30 40 30 — 30 
			 North East London 20 20 40 20 — 20 
			 North West London 60 30 60 30 — 30 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 30 20 20 20 — 20 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 10 10 10 10 — 10 
			 South East London 40 30 40 30 — 30 
			 South West London 20 10 20 20 — 20 
			 South West Peninsula 10 10 10 * — * 
			 South Yorkshire 30 10 20 10 — 10 
			 Surrey and Sussex 40 20 40 30 — 30 
			 Thames Valley 60 30 60 30 — 30 
			 Trent 40 30 40 30 — 30 
			 West Yorkshire 40 20 30 20 — 20 
		
	
	(29) Staff holding appointments in more than one StHA are included separately in each StHA. The sum of StHA totals therefore differs slightly from the England total and a direct comparison is not advised.
	(30) Data are at 31 March 2002 and 30 September in previous years.
	(31) March 2002 data were a mini census which counted consultants only.
	Notes:
	'—' denotes not available
	'*' denotes five or less than five
	Source:
	Department of health medical and dental workforce census.

Public Health Laboratory Service

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to maintain standards in the public health laboratories after their privatisation.

Hazel Blears: All the laboratories of the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) are Clinical Pathology Accreditation UK Ltd, accredited. It is envisaged that those PHLS laboratories that will transfer to the National Health Service in the coming months will maintain this accreditation. There is no plan to privatise PHLS laboratories.

Public Health Laboratory Service

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many public health laboratories will be privatised.

Hazel Blears: None of the laboratories will be privatised. From 1 April 2003, approximately 35 will transfer from the Public Health Laboratory Service to the management of National Health Service trusts. The remainder, approximately ten, will transfer to the Health Protection Agency when it is established.

Public Health Laboratory Service

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what co-ordination there will be between public health laboratories; and who will be responsible for checks on them after they are privatised.

Hazel Blears: None of the laboratories will be privatised. The Health Protection Agency will be responsible for monitoring the specialist services across the National Health Service laboratories transferring from the Public Health Laboratory Service, as well as their own laboratories. NHS trusts will be responsible for the routine microbiology services in their own trusts. They will be subject to the same performance monitoring as well by primary care trusts. External accreditation programmes will also remain in place. In time, the laboratories will form part of local pathology managed clinical networks. It is hoped that, until then, informal links will be maintained and strengthened between individual laboratories.

Public Health Laboratory Service

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many posts will be lost as a result of changes to the Public Health Laboratory Service.

Hazel Blears: Under the change management protocol which has been agreed with the current employers and the unions concerned, all staff transferring to the Health Protection Agency on its establishment or to a National Health Service trust will have guaranteed continuity of employment until April 2004.

Public Health Laboratory Service

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether the terms and conditions of employment of staff transferred to the proposed Health Protection Agency will be rationalised so that common terms and conditions apply to all staff, regardless of whether they came from the National Radiological Protection Board or the Public Health Laboratory Service;
	(2)  which aspects of health protection are proposed to be dealt with by the proposed Health Protection Agency; and which posts with the Public Health Laboratory Service are to be transferred to the HPA;
	(3)  what evaluation has been made of the case for abolition of the Public Health Laboratory Service.

Hazel Blears: XHealth Protection: A Consultation Document on creating a health protection agency", published in June 2002, proposed that the agency would take on responsibilities in relation to the control and prevention of infectious disease, including most of the functions of the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS), radiological protection, protection against chemical and poisonous hazards and health emergency planning. All PHLS staff would transfer to the agency, other than those in the laboratories which will transfer to the national health service by 31 March 2003, under separate decisions announced on 3 September. We are currently considering responses to the consultation document and will announce our decisions as soon as possible.
	The consultation document also proposed that staff would transfer on their existing terms and conditions of service. Future changes would be a matter for the board of the proposed agency to agree with the recognised trades unions.

Re-offending

Keith Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken to implement the recommendations relevant to his Department in the Social Exclusion Unit report, XReducing Re-offending by Ex-prisoners".

David Lammy: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, on 24 October 2002, Official Report, column 494W.

Salisbury Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are on the waiting list for counselling at Salisbury Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service; and how long they are expected to wait for an appointment.

Hazel Blears: The way in which waiting lists are measured at this service does not allow us to provide a number for those specifically requiring counselling. It is estimated that there are approximately 110 people on the waiting list at the Salisbury Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service (SADAS) for structured counselling and/or other treatment requirements.
	
		Current waiting times reported by SADAS
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Highest priority cases 1 to 2 weeks 
			 Treatment for under 25-year-olds Up to 8 weeks 
			 Arrest referral Up to 12 weeks 
			 Low risk Up to 52 weeks 
		
	
	Note:
	It should be noted that the figures above measure the time from referral to treatment, and not from the first appointment, which may have occurred at an earlier date.

Seroxat

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the accuracy of labelling and associated information material for the anti-depressant drug Seroxat, with regard to (a) side effects and (b) difficulty of withdrawal;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the side effects of the anti-depressant drug Seroxat, including difficulty of withdrawal.

Hazel Blears: Seroxat (paroxetine) is a member of a group of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Before a product is granted a licence for use in the UK, it must meet appropriate standards of safety, quality and efficacy. After licensing, the safety of all medicines, including SSRIs, is continually monitored by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the independent expert advisory body, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM), and any new evidence that emerges is carefully reviewed.
	The MCA/CSM carried out a major review of all side effects associated with SSRIs, which was completed in 2000 and resulted in product information for all SSRIs, including Seroxat, being updated and harmonised to reflect the common safety profiles of these medicines. An article in XCurrent Problems in Pharmacovigilance" in 2000 informed presenters about this review and reminded them about the risk of withdrawal reactions.
	Withdrawal reactions are an important and well-recognised side effect of Seroxat and also occur with the other SSRIs. The MCA/CSM warned prescribers about the possibility of withdrawal reactions associated with Seroxat via an article in the Bulletin, XCurrent Problems in Pharmacovigilance" in 1993. The CSM re-reviewed the issue of withdrawal reactions and possible dependence with Seroxat and the other SSRIs in 1998–99. From a detailed review of all available data, the CSM concluded that all SSRIs may be associated with withdrawal reactions on stopping, but that on current evidence, they are not associated with dependence. As a result of this review, product information for all SSRIs was updated in relation to withdrawal reactions. This issue was also reviewed at a European level by the Committee on Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP), which reached similar conclusions.
	The product information for Seroxat, which includes the summary of product characteristics (SPC) for prescribers and the patient information leaflet (PIL), contains full details of side effects and warnings about withdrawal reactions. Doctors are advised to consider gradual tapering of dose when Seroxat is discontinued rather than abruptly stopping to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Seroxat

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the drug Seroxat.

Hazel Blears: Seroxat (paroxetine) is a member of a group of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Before a product is granted a licence for use in the UK, it must meet appropriate standards of safety, quality and efficacy. After licensing, the safety of all medicines, including SSRIs, is continually monitored by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the independent expert advisory body, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM); any new evidence that emerges is carefully reviewed.
	The MCA/CSM carried out a major review of all side effects associated with SSRIs, which was completed in 2000 and resulted in product information for all SSRIs, including Seroxat, being updated and harmonised to reflect the common safety profiles of these medicines. An article in XCurrent Problems in Pharmacovigilance" in 2000 informed prescribers about this review and reminded them about the risk of withdrawal reactions.
	Withdrawal reactions are an important and well-recognised side effect of Seroxat and also occur with the other SSRIs. The MCA/CSM warned prescribers about the possibility of withdrawal reactions associated with Seroxat via an article in the Bulletin, XCurrent Problems in Pharmacovigilance" in 1993. The CSM re-reviewed the issue of withdrawal reactions and possible dependence with Seroxat and the other SSRIs in 1998–99. From a detailed review of all available data, the CSM concluded that all SSRIs may be associated with withdrawal reactions on stopping, but on current evidence, they are not associated with dependence. As a result of this review, product information for all SSRIs was updated in relation to withdrawal reactions. This issue was also reviewed at a European level by the Committee on Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP), which reached similar conclusions.
	The product information for Seroxat, which includes the summary of product characteristics (SPC) for prescribes and the patient information leaflet (PIL), contains full details of side effects and warnings about withdrawal reactions. Doctors are advised to consider gradual tapering of dose when Seroxat is discontinued, rather than abruptly stopping, to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Smoking Rates (Children)

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the smoking rates among children in each year since 1990 in (a) England and (b) each NHS region.

Hazel Blears: Information on smoking among young people aged 11 to 15 years is obtained from a series of surveys of school children. Until 1998, these surveys were carried out every two years; since then they have been annual. The available information is shown in the tables.
	
		Prevalence of regular cigarette smoking among secondary school children aged 11 to 15, England, 1990 to 2001
		
			  Regular smokers(32) (percentages) Base number 
		
		
			 1990 10 3,121 
			 1992 10 3,295 
			 1994 12 3,045 
			 1996 13 2,854 
			 1998 11 4,723 
			 1999 9 9,333 
			 2000 10 7,061 
			 2001 10 9,271 
		
	
	(32) Regular smokers are defined as those who smoke at least one cigarette a week, on average.
	Sources:
	1. ONS: Smoking, drinking and drug use among young teenagers in 1999.
	2. NCSR: Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2000. Available on the internet at http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/englandsmoking.pdf
	3. NCSR: Drug use, smoking and drinking among young people in England in 2001: Preliminary Results (DH Statistical Press Notice). Available on the internet at http:/www.doh.gov.uk/public/statspntables.htm
	
		Prevalence of regular cigarette smoking among secondary school children aged 11 to 15, by Government Office Region England, 1999 to 2000
		
			  Percentages  
			 Region 1999 2000 Base numbers (for 2000) 
		
		
			 North East 9 8 428 
			 North West/Merseyside 10 11 999 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 10 9 583 
			 East Midlands 8 11 687 
			 West Midlands 9 11 931 
			 Eastern 10 12 820 
			 London 9 9 571 
			 South East 8 11 1,325 
			 South West 9 9 717 
			 England 9 10 7,061 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The base in 1999 (England) was 9,333.
	2. Data not available by NHS region.
	3. Data not available by NHS region or Government Office region prior to 1999.
	4. Only preliminary results have been published from the 2001 survey: the main report will be published in late 2002.
	Sources:
	1. ONS: Smoking, drinking and drug use among teenagers in 1999.
	2. NCSR: Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in 2000.Available on the internet at http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/englandsmoking.pdf

Staffing Levels (Portsmouth Hospitals)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on staffing levels at (a) Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, (b) St. Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth and (C) St. James Hospital, Portsmouth.

Hazel Blears: This information is collected centrally at trust level and not by individual hospital site. Information on vacancy rates has been collected in the national health service vacancy survey since 1999. Information, taken from the surveys for 1999 to 2002, has been placed in the Library.
	We recognise that the south-east has suffered problems in recruiting and retaining staff. Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust and the local health community continue to work to ensure that vacant posts are filled as soon as possible.

Stem Cell Research

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to support stem cell research to combat disease.

Hazel Blears: The Government believe that the UK is well placed to remain a world leader in stem cell research.
	The Government have been working with funding agencies and other research bodies to make stem cell research a priority area for funding. The Medical Research Council (MRC) has taken the lead with other funders in developing a national Stem Cell Initiative.
	Outcomes during 2002 include new appointments and research support, the establishment of the national stem cell bank and the organisation of a major stem cell conference that was opened by my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Department for Trade and Industry Lord Sainsbury and attended by 400 delegates from 10 countries, including representatives of 20 companies.

Stem Cell Research

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources are being allocated to the setting up of the stem cell bank.

Hazel Blears: The Medical Research Council (MRC) announced details of the new national stem cell bank in September 2002. MRC has awarded a grant to the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) to establish and run the United Kingdom stem cell bank for an initial period of three years at a total cost of #2.6 million. The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) will contribute 25 per cent., of the set up costs; MRC will manage the grant.
	The grant will commence on 1 January 2003 and the funding profile is as follows:
	
		
			  #000 
		
		
			 Year 1 472 
			 Year 2 1,305 
			 Year 3 822 
			 Total 2.599 
		
	
	Additional moneys will be sought for phase two of the bank, specifically relating to increasing capacity for therapeutic purposes.

Stents

Richard Page: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of (a) drug coated and (b) plain stents; and if he will publish relative success rates.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 31 October 2002
	The Department referred drug coated stents, also called drug eluting stents, to the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) on 20 May this year for appraisal. NICE will produce technology appraisal guidance for the National Health Service on the clinical and cost effectiveness of drug eluting stents and on the appropriate use of this new technology. The Department does not currently collect information on the number of percutaneous coronary interventions that involve the use of stents or the relative success rates of different types of stent.

Stents

Richard Page: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines his Department has issued to primary care trusts regarding the use of drug coated stents.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 31 October 2002
	The Department has not issued any guidelines to primary care trusts regarding the use of drug coated stents, also called drug eluting stents. However, the Department referred drug eluting stents to the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) on 20 May this year for appraisal. NICE will produce technology appraisal guidance for the National Health Service on the clinical and cost effectiveness of drug eluting stents and on the appropriate use of this new technology.

Suicide

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have attempted suicide in each of the past five years and have been admitted to hospital as a consequence.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the number of people who have attempted suicide in each of the last five years and been admitted to hospital as a consequence is not collected centrally.
	The table shows the number of finished consultant episodes in national health service hospitals with a primary diagnosis of injury and poisoning between 1996–97 and 2000–01 England.
	
		
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 All completed injury and poisoning episodes 744,870 765,560 747,260 775,130 761,220 
			 No external cause given 110,190 113,620 111,550 114,690 120,500 
			 Percentage of total injury and poisoning 14.8 14.8 14.9 14.8 15.8 
		
	
	Note:
	This information is taken from Hospital Episode Statistics system (HES) and relates to in-patients who have finished their hospital episodes under the care of a consultant and have been discharged, transferred to another hospital or consultant specialist or died.

Surgical Procedures (Safeguards)

Gerry Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many surgical procedures have taken place in the private sector in the last six months; and what safeguards are in place to prevent a conflict of interests of those medical staff working in both the private and public sector.

John Hutton: The Department does not collect information on the number of surgical procedures that take place in the private sector. We expect doctors who work both in private and public sector, like all doctors, to behave in a professional manner. The General Medical Council's ethical guidance Good Medical Practice states that doctors must not put pressure on patients to accept private treatment and must always act in their patients' best interests when making referrals and providing or arranging treatment or care.

Teenage Pregnancy Strategy

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy commenced; how many girls in England and Wales (a) under 16 years of age and (b) under 18 years of age expressed as a total figure and as a percentage of the total number of girls, in each age range, have been provided with (i) contraception and (ii) emergency contraception in schools, pharmacies, family planning clinics and other establishments authorised to provide contraception since the commencement of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy.

Hazel Blears: Information is not available in the form requested.
	Information about the number of girls under 16 and aged 16–19, and rates per 100 population attending family planning clinics are available in the statistical bulletin XNHS Contraceptive Services, England: 2001/02" copies of which are available in the Library and on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0220.htm.
	Information for 2002–01 and 1999–2000 is also available in statistical bulletins for the relevant years, copies of which are available in the Library.

Teenage Pregnancy Strategy

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many boys in England and Wales (a) under 16 years of age and (b) under 18 years of age, expressed as a total figure and as a percentage of the total number of boys in each age range, have been provided with contraception in schools, pharmacies, family planning clinics and other establishments authorised to provide contraception since the commencement of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy.

Hazel Blears: Information is not available in the form requested.
	Information about the total number of males attending family planning clinics and the rate per 100 population, is shown in Table 2 of the statistical bulletin XNHS Contraceptive Services, England: 2001–02". Data is included from 1991–92 to 2001–02 but is not broken down by age. The bulletin is available in the Library and on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0220.htm.

Transfusions

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the proportion of patients requiring transfusion plasma who received only virus inactivated products in the past year.

Hazel Blears: No data are collected centrally on the proportion of virally inactivated fresh frozen plasma (FFP) received by patients. In April 2002, the national blood service (NBS) introduced methylene blue treatment of FFP for neonates and children born after 1 January 1996. United Kingdom FFP is already a very safe product. To minimise the risk from viruses, it is made only from previously tested blood donors. The current high levels of safety are achieved by screening out potential high risk donors and then further testing every unit of donated blood for the presence of infections, such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. FFP produced by the NBS, using UK donors, has also been leucodepleted to remove white cells, which evidence suggests may carry the greatest risk of transmitting vdD. A commercially produced, pooled solvent detergent treated FFP is licensed in the UK and available to the National Health Service.

Transfusions

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the use of methlyene blue treated fresh frozen plasma in children.

Hazel Blears: Provision of methylene blue (MB) treated fresh frozen plasma for children born after 1 January 1996 is part of a larger strategy to provide single unit, virus inactivated non-United Kingdom plasma for this group. Steps are actively being taken to find a safe, reliable source of plasma from the United States, an area free of BSE. The use of a non-pooled product minimises the risk of spread of pathogens, which may not be susceptible to the pathogen inactivation process. Currently, MB is the only available product for virally inactivating single unit plasma.
	This policy will be kept under review by the Government's expert advisory committee on the microbiological safety of blood and tissues for transplantation.

Tuberculosis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many teenagers in the UK were vaccinated against TB last year.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 29 October 2002
	Information about the numbers of teenagers receiving BCG vaccinations is contained in table 4 of the statistical bulletin XNHS Immunisation Statistics, England: 2001–02". A copy of the bulletin is available in the Library and can also be found on the Department's website www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0218.htm.
	Information for Wales, Scotland and Ireland is a matter for the devolved Administrations.

Tuberculosis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what co-ordination is in place from his Department with the Homelessness Unit at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in combating the rise of TB in the homeless.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 29 October 2002
	Screening policy for the homeless is determined at local levels; London wide there has been regular screening of homeless people at drop-in centres, and there are studies currently looking at screening homeless people more effectively and efficiently.

United Healthcare Group

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the agreement between his Department and the United Healthcare Group.

John Hutton: The government is committed to encouraging expressions of interest from successful international organisations to partner Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in developing and testing models of integrated care in the national health service. In line with this commitment, the Department is in discussion with United Healthcare Group with a view to entering into a contractual relationship with them to provide hands-on support to a number of PCTs to test elements of United Healthcare Group's Evercare model in this country and tailor it to the needs of the NHS. Under the Evercare model, doctors and nurses in primary care work together with care staff to identify vulnerable individuals at highest risk of hospitalisation. This allows for early intervention and treatment, thus avoiding inappropriate hospital admission, and facilitating safe, early discharge where a stay in hospital is necessary. The work will be carried out under the national primary and care trust development programme to promote significant transformational change.

Waiting Lists (Eastbourne)

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients at Eastbourne District General Hospital waited longer than (a) four and (b) 24 hours in accident and emergency in each of the last 12 months; and what proportion they were of the total.

Hazel Blears: Eastbourne Hospitals National Health Service Trust merged with Hastings and Rother NHS Trust in April 2002 to form East Sussex NHS Trust. Data are collected by NHS trust and not by individual hospital site. Therefore data are presented for Eastbourne Hospitals Trust up to March 2002. From April to September 2002, the data are for East Sussex NHS Trust as a whole.
	The number of patients spending over four hours in accident and emergency (A&E), from arrival to departure, for each month in the last year is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Month Patients spending over four hours in A&E Total A&E attendances Percentage of total 
		
		
			 September 2001 472 3,176 14.9 
			 October 2001 533 3,889 13.7 
			 November 2001 484 3,124 15.5 
			 December 2001 645 3,708 17.4 
			 January 2002 506 2,810 18.0 
			 February 2002 464 2,810 16.5 
			 March 2002 511 3,080 16.6 
			 April 2002 1,060 6,371 16.6 
			 May 2002 1,400 8,394 16.7 
			 June 2002 1,051 6,876 15.3 
			 July 2002 1,560 8,976 17.4 
			 August 2002 1,233 7,376 16.7 
			 September 2002 1,298 6,005 21.6 
		
	
	These data are taken from management information provided by the trusts and have not been validated by the Department.
	Information is not collected centrally on the number of patients spending over 24 hours in A&E. Information is collected on the number of patients waiting over 12 hours for admission via A&E, the time from the clinician's decision to admit until the patient is admitted to an in-patient ward. Eastbourne District General Hospital, now part of East Sussex NHS Trust, has not reported any of these in the past 12 months.

Working Time Directive

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1) what assessment he has made of the impact on medical staffing rotas of extending the Working Time Directive to junior doctors; and if he will make a statement.
	(2)  what pilot studies are being undertaken in NHS hospitals to demonstrate innovative ways of complying with the requirements of the Working Time Directive.

John Hutton: From August 2004, junior doctors will come within the remit of the European Working Time Directive. The key aspect is that junior doctors must have 11 hours rest in every 24 hours.
	It will not be possible for the National Health Service to achieve European Working Time Directive compliance by applying a single Xone size fits all" model across the whole country. Instead, compliance will be achieved with a portfolio of action at local and national level.
	Individual NHS trusts will need to look critically at working patterns and whether it is necessary for doctors to be resident. Where the intensity of calls requires resident cover, it will generally be necessary to move to new patterns of working such as shifts or partial shifts.
	The Department will be issuing guidance on implementation this Autumn and is working with stakeholders including the medical Royal Colleges, British Medical Association, NHS Confederation and the service to ensure that effective solutions are developed.
	The Department is therefore funding a programme of pilot projects based in NHS trusts to develop and test innovative solutions to European Working Time Directive implementation. We are funding about 20 pilot studies in individual NHS trusts and groups of NHS trusts on innovative ways of delivering services while complying with the requirements of the post-2004 Working Time Directive legislation. The individual pilots will cover areas such as night teams, health care practitioners, nurse practitioners and whole systems service redesign.
	Full details of the pilot programme will be announced shortly and will be available on the Department's website www.doh.qov.uk/workinqtime/.

Workplace Nurseries

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of NHS facilities have workplace nurseries attached.

John Hutton: A national survey of national health service child care provision, undertaken early in 2001, found that 114 NHS trusts provided nursery facilities for their staff. Since April 2001, a further 117 schemes for new or extensions to existing nurseries have had capital funding agreed as part of the NHS child care strategy. As a criterion of funding these nurseries should, wherever possible, provide places for the use of all health care workers, including those at other NHS organisations.
	Further capital funding will be made available in 2003–04 to meet the NHS plan target of 150 new nursery schemes by March 2004. All new build hospitals must also include a nursery in their plans.

Obesity

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of sick days taken in each of the last five years for which figures are available as a result of illness arising from overweight and obesity; and what his strategy is for addressing this problem.

Hazel Blears: The National Audit Office report, XTackling Obesity in England, published February 2001", estimated that in 1998 overweight and obesity contributed to 18 million sick days. The Government are committed to tackling the rising trend in obesity. The National Health Service priorities and planning framework for 2003–2006 includes targets on reducing coronary heart disease (CHD). One of these targets requires practice-based registers and systematic treatment regimes, including appropriate advice on diet, physical activity and smoking; it also covers the majority of patients at high risk of CHD, particularly those with hypertension, diabetes and a body mass index greater than 30. The Department is working with a range of partners at national, regional and local levels, on programmes to improve diet and increase physical activity levels. Action to improve diet includes a Five-a-day programme, including initiatives with the food industry, including manufacturers and caterers, improving the overall balance of diet—working with the Food Standards Agency—and a food in schools and healthy schools programme. Plans were recently announced to transform physical education and school sport and club links over the next three years. There is investment to develop local exercise action pilots, led by primary care trusts, and the new opportunities fund is supporting the delivery of a physical education and sports programme.

Weight Management

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is given on the database of weight management services developed by his Department; and how many times it has been updated since it was created.

Hazel Blears: The database of weight management services was completed in 1997 and made available at National Health Service regional offices for local dissemination on request. The project had two aims, one of which was to identify existing projects on weight management in the regions and to compile a directory of services. The database is a directory of weight management services in England, but does not claim to be comprehensive. Entries are arranged by region and, within each region, alphabetically by town. Each entry has details of project name, funding organisation, contact name and details and information on the services the project offers and if the project has been evaluated. The information has not been updated since publication.